Pakistan Defense News

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan today successfully conducted the training launch of Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)Hatf V (Ghauri). The launch was conducted by a Strategic Missile Group of the Army Strategic Force Command on the culmination of a field training exercise that was aimed at testing the operational readiness of the Army Strategic Force Command. Ghauri ballistic missile is a liquid fuel missile which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads over a distance of 1300 kms. The test monitoring of the launch was conducted at the National Command Centre through the medium of National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS). It may be recalled that the SCCSS enables robust Command and Control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situational awareness in a digitized network centric environment to decision makers at the National Command Centre (NCC). The test consolidates and strengthens Pakistan’s deter...

ISLAMABAD — Turkey is trying to broaden defense industry links with Pakistan, but Pakistan’s poor financial situation is hampering efforts. That opens the door to a possible deal with China, experts said, which carries its own set of issues. “Pakistan is one of our closest partners in defense, and they are already buying a lot of equipment from us,” said a senior official responsible for foreign relations at Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). “We would do whatever we can to further boost our cooperation.” Former Australian defense attaché to Islamabad, Brian Cloughley, agrees. “The recent visit by Turkey’s defense undersecretary was an indicator that Turkey remains committed to developing defense relations further,” he said. Analyst Usman Shabbir of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank said Turkey is a valued supplier that “offers [Pakistan] a route to Western technology” such as previously purchased NATO standard communication equipment. Turkey’s eff...

KARACHI: Prime Minster Raja Pervez Ashrah has stressed the need to eliminate the root cause of terrorism, Geo News reported on Wednesday. Speaking after the inauguration of IDEAS 2012 Exhibition, the prime minister said that Pakistan was facing a variety of challenges ranging from terrorism and extremism to social problems. “But we believe in tolerance,” he added. Mr Ashraf said that top quality defence equipments were created in Pakistan while the exhibition introduces the country on international level. Speaking about the Pak-China relationship, he said that both the countries enjoyed enduring relations. He said that there was also progress in Pakistan’s relations with Russia. The premier said that Islamabad supports peace process in Afghanistan while its negotiations with India were also underway. He said that Pak-Iran gas pipeline was the path to development and establishment of peace was vital for it. Ashraf said that there was independent judiciary and vibrant media ...