Pakistan successfully test fires nuke-capable Hatf-II missile
16 Feb 2013 6:10 AM IST
Pakistan on Friday successfully tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-II ballistic missile with a range of 180 kms, marking the second test of a missile system in four days as part of measures to evaluate the capabilities of its Strategic Forces.
The test of the Hatf-II or Abdali short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile was part of the ‘process of validation of land-based ballistic missile systems’, the military said in a statement. It described the test as successful but did not say where it was conducted.
The missile can carry nuclear or conventional warheads with ‘high accuracy’, the statement said. ‘The weapon system with its varied manoeuvrability options provides an operational level capability to Pakistans Strategic Forces,’ it said.
On 11 February, Pakistan tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 kms. The military had said the weapon system was specially designed to defeat anti-tactical missile defence systems.
Analysts say the short-range Hatf-IX missile is primarily aimed at deterring India's Cold Start military doctrine, which envisages quick thrusts by small integrated battle groups in the event of hostilities.
On Friday's test was witnessed by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Strategic Plans Division Director General Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Army Strategic Forces Command chief Lt Gen Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the Strategic Forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.
The President and Prime Minister congratulated the scientists and engineers on the test ‘which consolidates Pakistans deterrence capability both at the operational and strategic levels’, the statement said.
DESPITE PAK DELINQUENCY ON TERROR, PENTAGON MAKES FRIENDLY NOISES
Identifying Pakistan as a key country in the region, a top Pentagon commander has told American lawmakers that Washington's relationship with Islamabad is on a positive slope now.
‘I think our relationship with Pakistan is critical. It is a key country in the region,’ General Lloyd J Austin, nominee for Commander, US Central Command, told members of Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Thursday.
‘My goal would be to immediately work to continue to build upon the existing relationship, which is on somewhat of a positive slope right now, a positive path. I want to continue to build on that. They will be key throughout going into the future,’ Austin said during his confirmation hearing responding to questions from Senators on Pakistan.
‘Among the greatest threats to stability are the safe havens for Afghan insurgents across the Pakistan border, which the government of Pakistan has failed to disrupt or eliminate,’ said Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
ISLAMABAD ATOMIC ARSENAL NOW CONSISTS OF 90 TO 110 NUCLEAR WAR HEADS
Pakistan's atomic arsenal probably consists of between 90 to 110 nuclear war heads, a latest Congressional report has said, informing the American lawmakers that Islamabad is interested in concluding a nuclear cooperation deal with the US, which would require their approval.
‘Pakistan's nuclear arsenal probably consists of approximately 90-110 nuclear warheads, although it could be larger,’ said the report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research wing of the US Congress.
‘Islamabad is producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities, and deploying additional delivery vehicles. These steps could enable Pakistan to undertake both quantitative and qualitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal,’ the report said. India currently has approximately 60-80 nuclear weapons, it said, referring to one public estimate.
‘Whether and to what extent Pakistan's current expansion of its nuclear weapons-related facilities is a response to the 2008 US-India nuclear cooperation agreement is unclear. Islamabad does not have a public, detailed nuclear doctrine, but its 'minimum credible deterrent' is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan,’ it said.
‘It is worth noting that Pakistani officials have expressed interest in concluding a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, which would require congressional approval,’ said the report titled 'Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues'.
Noting that Pakistan has in recent years taken a number of steps to increase international confidence in the security of its nuclear arsenal, the report however said instability in Pakistan has called the extent and durability of these reforms into question.
The test of the Hatf-II or Abdali short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile was part of the ‘process of validation of land-based ballistic missile systems’, the military said in a statement. It described the test as successful but did not say where it was conducted.
The missile can carry nuclear or conventional warheads with ‘high accuracy’, the statement said. ‘The weapon system with its varied manoeuvrability options provides an operational level capability to Pakistans Strategic Forces,’ it said.
On 11 February, Pakistan tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 kms. The military had said the weapon system was specially designed to defeat anti-tactical missile defence systems.
Analysts say the short-range Hatf-IX missile is primarily aimed at deterring India's Cold Start military doctrine, which envisages quick thrusts by small integrated battle groups in the event of hostilities.
On Friday's test was witnessed by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Strategic Plans Division Director General Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Army Strategic Forces Command chief Lt Gen Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the Strategic Forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.
The President and Prime Minister congratulated the scientists and engineers on the test ‘which consolidates Pakistans deterrence capability both at the operational and strategic levels’, the statement said.
DESPITE PAK DELINQUENCY ON TERROR, PENTAGON MAKES FRIENDLY NOISES
Identifying Pakistan as a key country in the region, a top Pentagon commander has told American lawmakers that Washington's relationship with Islamabad is on a positive slope now.
‘I think our relationship with Pakistan is critical. It is a key country in the region,’ General Lloyd J Austin, nominee for Commander, US Central Command, told members of Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Thursday.
‘My goal would be to immediately work to continue to build upon the existing relationship, which is on somewhat of a positive slope right now, a positive path. I want to continue to build on that. They will be key throughout going into the future,’ Austin said during his confirmation hearing responding to questions from Senators on Pakistan.
‘Among the greatest threats to stability are the safe havens for Afghan insurgents across the Pakistan border, which the government of Pakistan has failed to disrupt or eliminate,’ said Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
ISLAMABAD ATOMIC ARSENAL NOW CONSISTS OF 90 TO 110 NUCLEAR WAR HEADS
Pakistan's atomic arsenal probably consists of between 90 to 110 nuclear war heads, a latest Congressional report has said, informing the American lawmakers that Islamabad is interested in concluding a nuclear cooperation deal with the US, which would require their approval.
‘Pakistan's nuclear arsenal probably consists of approximately 90-110 nuclear warheads, although it could be larger,’ said the report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research wing of the US Congress.
‘Islamabad is producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities, and deploying additional delivery vehicles. These steps could enable Pakistan to undertake both quantitative and qualitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal,’ the report said. India currently has approximately 60-80 nuclear weapons, it said, referring to one public estimate.
‘Whether and to what extent Pakistan's current expansion of its nuclear weapons-related facilities is a response to the 2008 US-India nuclear cooperation agreement is unclear. Islamabad does not have a public, detailed nuclear doctrine, but its 'minimum credible deterrent' is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan,’ it said.
‘It is worth noting that Pakistani officials have expressed interest in concluding a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, which would require congressional approval,’ said the report titled 'Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues'.
Noting that Pakistan has in recent years taken a number of steps to increase international confidence in the security of its nuclear arsenal, the report however said instability in Pakistan has called the extent and durability of these reforms into question.
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