In 1993, Benazir Bhutto's ministry procured the
M-11 missile from
China but the Chinese missiles were incapable of addressing Pakistan's nuclear deterrence capability against India in an event of
conventional standoff. Any attempts to circumvent the Chinese missiles had failed the missile system entirely that forced the
MoD to eventually design and develop its own program. Codenamed as
Ghaznavi, after the
Turkic sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, the contract was awarded to
National Defence Complex which designed the rocket system and the warhead as well. The
JS HQ, however, officially deployed this system as "
Hatf–III" (lit.
Target-3). Due to its engineering feat, the Western observers had leveled serious allegations of foreign assistance, comparing to former Soviet
Scud or Chinese M-11 missiles. The
Ghaznavi is a nuclear weapon-delivery capability weapon system that drew World's attention during the tense atmosphere in 2002. The
Ghaznavi successfully reached its target and has a range of 290
km (180
mi), making it capable of striking several key targets within neighboring, India. Subsequent tests were conducted on 9 December 2006 another on 13 February 2008 and 8 May 2010; the 2008 test was believed to have concluded a winter training exercise of Pakistan's
strategic command of Pakistan Army. Pakistan successfully carried out night training launch of Ghaznavi missile on August 28, 2019. The
Ghaznavi is transported through the
WS2400 8WD TEL on which Pakistani military markings are quite visible. ==References==