RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful training launch of intermediate range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) ballistic missile, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

The successful launch was the culminating point of the Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command.

The ISPR further added that the purpose of the launch was to ensure operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group besides re-validating different design and technical parameters of the weapon system.

Shaheen-II Missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 1500 kilometres.

The launch, which had its impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by the Director of General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lieutenant General Obaid Ullah Khan.

Other witnesses included Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (Nescom), Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of various strategic organisations.

While addressing the participant troops and scientists at the launch area, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat congratulated them on achieving yet another milestone towards consolidation of full spectrum credible minimum deterrence.

He appreciated the operational preparedness and readiness of the Army Strategic Forces Command, which made the successful launch of Shaheen-II Weapon System possible. He also showed his full confidence in the existing robust Strategic Command and Control System.

He further reiterated that Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and has no aggressive designs against any one. Pakistan’s Strategic Forces are fully capable of safeguarding security of the mother land against any aggression, he said.

The successful test launch and achievement of this Range milestone has also been warmly appreciated by President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.