ISLAMABAD: Pakistan conducted the successful training launch of short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf-III (Ghaznavi), capable of delivering nuclear and conventional warheads up to a range of 290 kilometers, the military said Thursday.

A spokesman for the military’s public relations wing said the launch was the culminating point of a field training exercise of the Army’s Strategic Forces Command, aimed at testing the operational readiness of the Strategic Missile Group and up gradation of weapon systems.

The launch was witnessed by the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant-General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander 5-Corps Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command Lieutenant-General Obaid Ullah Khan,Chairman NESCOM MMuhammad Irfan Burney, and other senior military officials and scientists.

Addressing soldiers, the Chief of Army Staff appreciated the troops on displaying a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating strategic weapon systems.

General Raheel expressed his confidence over the professionalism of the soldiers and urged them to maintain the high standards.

“Pakistan has configured one of the best command and control systems, and the armed forces are fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan’s security against any aggression,” remarked the army chief.

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated the participating troops, scientists and engineers on the success launch.