Islamabad, Jan 25 : Pakistan has successfully test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile Hatf-4 Shaheen-1 at the conclusion of the army's annual field training exercises on Friday.

The Pakistan Army said that the Strategic Missile Group SMG) had launched the Shaheen-1 missile from an undisclosed location.

The nuclear-capable missile has a range of 700 kilometres (420 miles). Pakistan tests the various missiles in its arsenal, designed to match India.

A SMG of the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force Command (ASFC) 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, The News reported.

Shaheen-1 ballistic missile system is an operationalised weapon system held by the ASFC and is routinely fired during training exercises by the troops.

The Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists, witnessed the field launch exercise of the ASFC.

Addressing the troops in the exercise area, Kiyani congratulated them on achieving high standards of training and excellent results.

He 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, Kiyani 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. (ANI)