Pakistan Saturday conducted a test-fire of Shaheen-III, a surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, said.  

The test flight was “aimed at the revalidating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system”, it said. Last year the military conducted a successful test launch of an "enhanced-range" version of the indigenously developed Babur Cruise Missile 1B. Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, director-general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD),  congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving excellence in the domain of cruise missile technology, the military said in a statement.

The test, he said, would further strengthen Pakistan’s strategic deterrence. According to Pakistani media reports, with a range of 2,750 km, it is capable of reaching the farthest point in India's northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

Significantly, the test came on the day when the country’s national assembly has been discussing the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza, and services chiefs also congratulated the scientists and engineers on conducting the successful launch, the military said in the statement.

(SAM)