Pakistan Conducts Test Launch of The Ghauri Medium Range Ballistic Missile
Pakistan is conducting a series of ballistic missile tests in order to “strengthen its deterrence” and increase its strategic stability in the region stretching from South Asia to the Arabian Sea coast. The Pakistani army, which conducted a flight test of the Ababeel ballistic missile last week – the Ababeel can carry nuclear and conventional warheads, has now successfully carried out the training launch of the Ghauri (Hatf-5) medium-range ballistic missile. The launch was observed by Commander Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), top officers from the strategic forces, and strategic organization scientists and engineers.
According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Armed Forces’ media and public relations wing, ASFC Commander Lieutenant General Muhammad Shahbaz Khan stated, “I appreciate the standard of training and operational readiness of the Army Strategic Forces, which is reflected in the skillful use of the Weapon System in the field and the achievement of operational and technical objectives.” Adding to the statement, the ASFC Commander also thanked the scientists and engineers for their contributions to increasing Pakistan’s strategic capacity.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan’s Interim Prime Minister, posted on his X account saying, “Congratulations to Pakistan on today’s successful Training Launch of the Ghauri Weapon System! This achievement underscores the operational and technical readiness of the Army Strategic Forces Command. Great work by the scientists and engineers who contributed towards the enhancement of our strategic capability. A significant milestone for national defense!”
Another noteworthy aspect of the Ghauri ballistic missile test was that it occurred just a few days after the United States imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies that supplied missile parts to Pakistan. In the statement made by the US State Department regarding the decision in question, it was stated that “Today’s actions demonstrate that the United States will continue to act against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur.”
Ghauri, also known as Hatf-V, is a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), which is responsible for creating weapons-grade nuclear material on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. Since 1998, the missile has been successfully tested 15 times by the Pakistan Army’s Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), which oversees ground-based nuclear weapons. The Ghauri is very similar in design to North Korea’s Nodong 1 and Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles. Thanks to its single-stage liquid fuel engine, the Ghauri ballistic missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads up to a distance of 1,300 km.