ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fired its first submarine-launched cruise missile on Monday, the military said, a show of force for a country that sees its missile development as a deterrent against arch-foe India.<\/p>\n
The launch of the nuclear-capable Babur-3 missile, which has a range of 450 km (280 miles) and was fired from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean, is likely to heighten long-running tension between India and Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Both nations have been developing missiles of varying ranges since they conducted nuclear tests in May 1998.<\/p>\n
“Pakistan eyes this hallmark development as a step towards reinforcing the policy of credible minimum deterrence,” the military’s media wing said in a statement.<\/p>\n
A spokesman at the Indian defence ministry was not immediately available to comment on the Pakistani missile test.<\/p>\n
India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable, submarine-launched missile in 2008 and tested a submarine-launched cruise missile in 2013.<\/p>\n
The Pakistani military said the Babur-3 missile was “capable of delivering various types of payloads and will provide Pakistan with a Credible Second Strike Capability, augmenting deterrence”.<\/p>\n
An army spokesman later confirmed the language meant the missile was equipped to carry nuclear warheads.<\/p>\n
The Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of the ground-launched Babur-2 missile, which was tested in December. The military said the missile had features such as “underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation”.<\/p>\n
Last year, Pakistan said it was “seriously concerned” by India’s test of anti-ballistic missiles which media reports said could intercept incoming nuclear weapons.
\nAccording to media reports, on May 15 India tested a locally designed Anti-Ballistic Missile system which could in theory intercept a nuclear-carrying ballistic missile.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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