Pakistan test fires short-range NASR; General Qamar Bajwa terms it 'credible deterrence' for India

Just days after an international report on nuclear weapons stated that the world nuclear arms race is far from over, Pakistan on Wednesday successfully test-fired short-range surface to surface ballistic missile named ‘Nasr’, PTI said.

Though General Bajwa didn’t name India in the official press release, released by Pakistan military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Twitter, the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff was quoted saying: “War must be avoided at all costs and our strategic capability is a guarantee of peace against a highly militarised and increasingly belligerent neighbour.”

According to ISPR, “NASR is a high-precision weapon system with the ability to be deployed quickly.” The test was conducted to validate the missile’s new “technical parameters” including “enhanced range from 60 km to 70 km and flight maneuverability”.

Dawn quoted ISPR stating that the “weapon system will ‘augment credible deterrence against the prevailing threat spectrum’ more effectively, including anti-missile defenses deployed by hostile forces.

"Nasr Puts 'cold water' on 'cold start'!" COAS.

COAS witnessed training launch of 'SSM Nasr' with enhanced range and manoeuvrability.(1of2) pic.twitter.com/RWH6rsrVrS

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 5, 2017

According to another published on the news website , Pakistan is planning to conduct several such tests over the next few days.  Citing unknown sources, the news website said that the short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) that Pakistan is likely to test include “Ghaznavi, Abdali-I, Ghauri-I, Shaheen-I while medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) include Ghauri-II, Shaheen-II, Shaheen-III, Ababeel”.

“Our strat cap is a guarantee of peace agnst belligerent neighbour & only meant to ensure, no one thinks war remains an option”, COAS(2 of2) pic.twitter.com/oMU4bZNnse

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) July 5, 2017

The country is also planning to test cruise missiles like Babur-1 (Hatf -VII), Babur-2 (Hatf -VII) as well as the anti-tank guided missile Bakhtar-Shikan.