Pakistan Test 1st Home-Grown Cruise Missile with Enhanced Range

Pakistan has successfully tested a longer-range version of its indigenously built Babur cruise missile 1B.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, it has a range of more than 900 kilometres (560 miles), which is double that of an earlier missile of the same model.

An older version had a limited range of only 450 kilometres (280 miles). The missile's longer range bolsters Pakistan's military capabilities, which already include nuclear weapons.

According to the release, the ordinance is capable of striking both land and marine targets with "excellent accuracy." This comes only days after India successfully tested the Agni-P, a next-generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

Lt. Gen. Nadeem Zaki Manj, the commander of the Pakistani army's Strategic Plans Division, claimed the test will improve Pakistan's "strategic deterrence" during the launch ceremony.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and three service chiefs praised the scientists and engineers for a "successful launch."

Since 1947, when the two arch-rivals were partitioned, they have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965, and 1971 – the last two of which were fought over the disputed Kashmir region.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan territory, is pided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both countries in its entirety. China also holds a little piece of Kashmir.