Pakistan test-fires 290-km range missile

Islamabad : Pakistan has successfully test-fired nuclear-capable surface-to- surface ballistic missile 'Ghaznavi' with a range of up to 290 km, the Army said on Thursday, amid fresh Indo- Pak tensions after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday closed three aviation routes of Karachi airspace till August 31, leading to reports that the Pakistan Army may conduct a missile test from a flight test range in Balochistan.

The Pakistan military's media spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor on Thursday shared a video of the "night-training launch" of the short-range ballistic missile on Twitter.

The Ghaznavi missile is capable of delivering multiple types of warheads up to 290 km, that could cover parts of India. According to experts, the Ghaznavi missile could be an improved 'Scud' type ballistic missile.

The missile's warhead can be conventional, high explosive (HE) and nuclear. Maj Gen. Ghafoor said that the Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the three services chiefs congratulated the team of experts for successfully testing the missile.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan also conveyed their appreciation to the team, and congratulated the nation on the feat, he said.

The nuclear-capable missile was launched amid Pakistan's efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue.