Pakistan Friday conducted a successful training launch of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Ghauri (Hatf V), having a range of 1300 kilometers, at an undisclosed location, said an official statement. A Strategic Missile Group (SMG) of Pakistan Army s Strategic Force Command (ASFC) conducted the training launch of the missile. The field launch exercise of ASFC was witnessed by President Pervez Musharraf, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists. The launch was conducted at the conclusion of annual field training exercises of Ghauri Missile Group. ASFC is currently engaged in its winter collective training, wherein, every operationalised SMG is practiced in tactical and live firing exercises. Shaheen-I SMG had also conducted a training launch recently. Addressing the troops in exercise area, Musharraf congratulated them on achieving high standards of training and excellent results. He said the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence. The president said Pakistan s armed forces are a highly professional, motivated and well trained force and are capable of safeguarding Pakistan s security against all types of threat. Musharraf said he was extremely pleased to see ASFC emerge as a well-trained and cohesive force in a very short span of time. All needs for the strategic capability as per Pakistan s minimum deterrence requirements would be met by the nation. We have taken note of various imaginary scenarios being propounded by those who do not wish Pakistan well. Such elements have never reconciled to a nuclear Pakistan, he said. The president said that Pakistan is capable of thwarting all threats to its sovereignty and to the nuclear capability.
