By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of the Shaheen-II ballistic missile on Tuesday, the military said, as the nuclear-armed nation seeks to bolster its deterrent against arch-rival India.
“Pakistan today conducted successful training launch of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen-II,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The launch aimed to test troop training, validate technical parameters, and evaluate sub-systems for improved accuracy and survivability.
Senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, and scientists witnessed the launch, which demonstrated “technical prowess, dedication and commitment,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan’s president, prime minister, and military leaders congratulated the scientists and engineers on the achievement.
The test comes as Pakistan seeks to bolster its nuclear deterrent against neighboring India, with which it has a long-standing rivalry and has fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947.
Pakistan has been developing its missile capabilities since conducting nuclear tests in May 1998, with recent tests including the Fateh-II Guided Rocket System in May and the Ababeel weapons system in October 2023.
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