Pakistan tests short-range missile with nuclear possibilities

Pakistan tests short-range missile with nuclear possibilities

2011-04-19 19:07:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan's armed forces on Tuesday successfully conducted the first flight test of the short-range Multi Tube Ballistic Missile Hatf IX (NASR), which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, officials said.

According to Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the newly developed NASR is a short-range surface-to-surface missile, which has been developed to add deterrence value to Pakistan’s Strategic Weapons Development program at shorter ranges.

With a 60 kilometer (37.2 miles) range, the ISPR noted that the NASR "carries nuclear warheads of appropriate yield with high accuracy, shoot and scoot attributes" and as a quick response system, it "addresses the need to deter evolving threats."

Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, who witnessed the test, said that the test was a very important milestone in consolidating Pakistan's strategic deterrence capability at all levels of the threat spectrum.

In addition, Kidwai underlined the importance of the NASR Weapon System to the already available medium and long range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in Pakistan's inventory.

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