Pakistan tests Shaheen-2 (Hatf VI)

Pakistan conducted two tests of its Shaheen-2 (Hatf VI) missile on Saturday and Monday, respectively. The tests “validated the operational readiness of a strategic missile group equipped with [the] Shaheen II missile," the Pakistani military said in a statement. In other words: it is ready for wartime use.

The Shaheen-2 is Pakistan’s longest range ballistic missile with a range of over 2,000km. Even though Pakistan is proud of its missile, it is a bit overly ambitious in touting this missile to be a “long range ballistic missile”. Also other sources shoot frequently one category too high: the Ghauri (Hatf V) is labeled as IRBM, even though its maximum range is 1,300km. Likewise the SRBM Shaheen-1 (Hatf IV) with its 750km range is designated as MRBM.

India on Saturday did not give much credence to the test-firing of a ballistic missile by Pakistan saying such tests were regularly required as the technology was imported.