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Pakistan is preparing to deploy new N-missile

By zaheer | May 20, 2007

WASHINGTON: Pakistan is preparing its next-generation of nuclear-capable ballistic missile for deployment, says a report by the Federation of American Scientists.
The report acknowledges that “the main driver for Pakistan’s nuclear modernisation appears to be India’s nuclear build-up, although national prestige probably also is a factor.”
The two countries appear to be entering a new phase in their regional nuclear arms race with medium-range ballistic missiles gradually replacing aircraft as the backbone of their nuclear strike forces, the report adds.
But it warns that in contrast to aircraft, ballistic missiles have a very short flight time and cannot be recalled once launched.
The FAS report on Pakistan includes a satellite image taken on June 5, 2005, which, the authors say, shows a 15 Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL) for the medium-range Shaheen 2 fitting out at the National Defence Complex near Fatehjang, approximately 30km southwest of Islamabad.
The authors say that they discovered the vehicles while preparing for the latest nuclear notebook on Pakistani nuclear forces published in the May/June issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Topics: Pakistan News |