The Pakistan military on Wednesday launched a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads in a routine launching training drill, the military said. DPA reported The Army's Strategic Missile Group carried out the launch of the Hatf-III Ghaznavi, which has a distance of to 290 kilometres, a statement from the military said. Pakistan first test-fired the Ghaznavi in December 2006 and handed over it to the Army Strategic Command in March 2007. Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro witnessed Wednesday's exercise and said nuclear-armed Pakistan's military strength ensures peace in South Asia, where rival neighbour India also has nuclear weapons. "The Pakistani government is fully committed to retaining a strong conventional and unconventional deterrence and will meet all the needs of a strong national defence," he added. It was the third ballistic missile test carried out by Pakistan this year. Earlier it successfully test-launched Shaheen-1 and Ghauri missiles.
