Ghaznavi missile handed over to Pakistan army.

suleman

New Member
Editorial

The Ghaznavi (Hatf-III) missile, which was handed over to the army’s strategic force command, joins the Ghauri (Hatf-V) and Shaheen (Hatf-IV) missiles which were provided last year. The solid fuel Ghaznavi missile with a range of 290 kilometers is indigenously produced. The new system now forms an integral component of Pakistan’s operational deterrence system and will further strengthen the army’s strategic clout at a time when the region continues to witness the frenetic development of new missile systems to add to a vast array of existing missiles. The addition of this new system in the Pakistan army missile stable, therefore, should not be a cause of needless concern.

The fact that needs to be appreciated is that missiles are the latest weapon systems much in the way that faster and more powerful aircraft are produced or field guns are invented. National defence calls for a perpetual effort to make it stronger. Missiles form merely one of the large number of weapons and vehicles and air and sea craft that constitute the defence infrastructure. The development of missile systems, therefore, should not be linked to the nuclear programme of a state which is entirely different.

President Pervez Musharraf speaking on Saturday at the handing over ceremony ruled out compromise on the nuclear programme. He declared "Pakistan’s nuclear system is here to stay and being of vital national security interest, we will continue to develop our capability for maintaining minimum deterrence needs." Stating that Pakistan was an acknowledged and established nuclear power, he emphasised enhanced security by drawing appropriate lessons from unfortunate events of proliferation. He said that since the establishment of the institutionalised command and control systems, adequate checks had been put in place to prevent the recurrence of such lapses. These sophisticated missiles which cover diverse strategic requirements are a tribute to the expertise and capability of our scientists and technologists. Their tireless efforts have gradually developed a series of missile systems designed for particularly uses.



http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2004-daily/23-02-2004/oped/editorial.htm
 
Top