Pakistan’s ballistic missile arsenal and why India is safe from all of them

In one of the biggest announcements on Jammu and Kashmir post India’s Independence in 1947, the central government-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently bifurcated Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Along with the bifurcation, Article 370 – which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir – was removed. Also, the Article 35A of the Indian Constitution, which empowers Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents, was scrapped. The move was appreciated across the country. The change in status of Jammu and Kashmir means that a better-coordinated security force would be on the LoC keeping a tighter vigil on Pakistan's activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir including Gilgit-Baltistan. Due to the move, Pakistan was irked and approached to the United Nations. On the other hand, India received support on the international forum and countries like US and Russia over its move on Jammu and Kashmir. In the meantime, Pakistan PM Imran khan often tries to threaten New Delhi with nuclear arms, something which has been done by other heads of the neighbouring country. The tension between India and Pakistan is currently at its peak. Here’s the list of missiles of Pakistan that can be used against India. Also, here’s the reason why India has the edge against Pakistan. 

Complete list of all Pakistan Missiles with range:  

Hatf-1 (SRBM - Short-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 10-100 km

Payload: 500 kg

Warhead: Conventional

Variations: Hatf 1A and Hatf 1B

Photo Credit: Twitter

Hatf-2 (Abdali)

(SRBM - Short-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 180-200 km

Payload: 250-450 kg

Warhead: Conventional

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi)

(SRBM - Short-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 240 km

Payload: 700

Warhead: Conventional/ Nuclear

Photo Credit: Twitter 

Hatf- 4 (Shaheen 1)

(SRBM - Short-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 750km

Payload: 700kg

Warhead: Conventional/ Nuclear

Variation: Shaheen 1A

Photo Credit: Twitter

Hatf- 5 (Ghauri)

(MRBM - Medium-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 1,250-1,500 km

Payload: 700 kg

Warhead: Conventional/Nuclear

Photo Credit: Twitter 

Hatf-6 (Shaheen 2)

(MRBM - Medium-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 1,500-2,000 km

Payload: 700kg

Warhead: Conventional/Nuclear

Photo Credit: Twitter

Hatf-7 (Babur)

(Short-Range Cruise Missile)

Range: 350-700 km

Payload: 450-500 kg

Warhead: Conventional/ Nuclear

Photo Credit: Twitter

Hatf-8 (Ra’ad)

Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)

Range: 350 km

Warhead: Nuclear/Conventional

Variations: Ra’ad 2

Photo Credit: Twitter 

Hatf-9 (Nasr)

(SRBM - Short-range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 60 km

Payload: 400 kg

Warhead: Nuclear/ Conventional

Photo Credit: Twitter

Shaheen- 3

(MRBM - Medium-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 2,750 km

Warhead: Nuclear/ Conventional

The Shaheen-3 was specifically designed to target India’s Nicobar and Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The Shaheen-3 also has the longest range among all missiles in Pakistan’s arsenal.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Ababeel

(MRBM - Medium-Range Ballistic Missile)

Range: 2,200 km

Payload: MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles)

Warhead: Nuclear/ Conventional

The Ababeel is the first MIRV system missile in South Asia and was specifically designed to defeat Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) systems deployed by India.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Also Read: Indian Air Force Vs Pakistan Air Force: Who will rule the sky? Find out here

Also Read: These 7 Indian missiles can create havoc in Pakistan. Third one is lethal

It is worth mentioning here that in India, due to imminent threat, national capital Delhi and financial hub Mumbai are protected by Missile Defence system also known as defence shield in common parlance. Also, it is to be noted that India has the capability of taking down Pakistani missiles through anti-ballistic missile system and advanced air defence.

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

It is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere (exo-atmospheric). PAD is a two-stage missile with a maximum interception altitude of 80 km.

Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

It is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the endo-atmosphere at an altitude of 30 km.

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