ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Pakistan on Friday conducted a successful training launch of the Shaheen-1 (Hatf-IV) medium-range ballistic missile.

The launch by the Strategic Missile Group (SMG) of Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command (ASFC) was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercises of the Shaheen-1 Missile Group.

The Shaheen-1 Ballistic Missile System, with a range of 700km, is an operationalised weapon system and is routinely fired during training exercises by ASFC troops.

The field launch exercise was witnessed by the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists, a press release issued by the ISPR said. Addressing the troops, Gen Kayani congratulated them on achieving high standards of training and excellent results.

He said that the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that those entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to maintain professional excellence.

The army chief said that Pakistan had no aggressive designs against anyone and Pakistan’s nuclear capability was solely for the purpose of deterring all types of aggression.He dismissed international concerns regarding speculative scenarios as unrealistic and based on lack of understanding of Pakistan’s control mechanisms.

Gen Kayani said that the highly professional, motivated and well-trained armed forces of Pakistan were capable of safeguarding and securing nuclear assets against all categories of threat. He added that the nation stood behind the armed forces.

He stressed that the irresponsible alarm created by certain quarters would be counter-productive.