A Strategic Missile Group (SMG) of the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command (ASFC) today conducted a successful training launch of the Shaheen-1 (Hatf-IV) Medium Range Ballistic Missile. The launch was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercises of a Shaheen-1 Missile Group. It may be recalled that the Shaheen-1 Ballistic Missile System, with a range of 700 kms, is an operationalised weapon system held by the ASFC and is routinely fired during training exercises by the troops of the ASFC.

The field launch exercise of the ASFC was witnessed by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists. Addressing the troops in the exercise area, the COAS congratulated them on achieving high standards of training and excellent results. He said that the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that the officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence.

The COAS made it clear that Pakistan did not have any aggressive designs against anyone and Pakistan’s nuclear capability was solely for the purpose of deterring all types of aggression. Referring to international concerns regarding speculative scenarios, he dismissed such concerns as unrealistic and based on a lack of understanding of Pakistan’s command and control mechanisms. He said that the Pakistani Armed Forces were a highly professional, motivated and well trained force and were capable of safeguarding and securing nuclear assets against all categories of threat. The nation stood behind the armed forces. He stressed that creating irresponsible alarm by certain quarters would be counter productive.

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Corps Commander Rawalpindi, Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal visited Headquarters Special Communications Organization (SCO) on 25 January 2008 Friday morning.

Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal was briefed regarding various ongoing and futuristic developmental projects of modern telecom services on revolutionary footings benefiting people of far flung areas of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Northern Areas.

Laying of Optical Fiber Cable enabling and facilitating digitalization and expansion of SCO telecom network services, to include landline, GSM and CDMA with induction and commissioning of world telecom cum internet equipment and installation of microwave system in NAs and mechanism of terrestrial microwave linking Rawalpindi with Gilgit and further to Gupis were other major features of concern at the briefing.

Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal was also briefed about the recently developed IT based billing, customers’ support system, DSL broadband and dialup internet services compatible with developed states around the globe for AJ&K and NAs. After apprising about growth of SCO telecom infrastructure linked with developmental activities and futuristic plans, update regarding deregulation implications also formed part of the briefing to the Corps Commander.

Earlier on arrival, the Corps Commander was received by Director General SCO, Major General Shahid Maqbool and officers of Headquarters SCO were introduced to him.

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