Pakistan successfully tested short range ballistic missile-Ghazanvi

Pakistan successfully test-fired short range ballistic missile Hatf-III named Ghazanvi in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on 22 April 2014. The short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile can carry nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 290 kilometers.

The successful launch concluded the Field Training Exercise of Strategic Missile Group of Army Strategic Forces Command.

The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood congratulated all the Scientists and Engineers for the successful launch of Ghaznavi Missile. He regarded the testing of missile as another mile stone which has further strengthened the defence potential of Pakistan besides assuring peace in the region.

The successful test of the missile was also appreciated by the President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. They congratulated the participating troops, scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

In 1972, Pakistan began focusing on nuclear weapons development under the leadership of then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998 and since then had routinely test-fires nuclear-capable missiles which it claims are indigenously developed missiles.