"Pakistani troops today conducted a successful launch of the medium range Hatf 4 or Shaheen-1 missile," it said in a statement.

Shaheen-1 missile, which has a range of 700 kilometers (437 miles), has been previously test-fired by Pakistan, a military spokesman told AFP.

The missile system was handed over to the army strategic force command (ASFC) a few years ago, the statement said.

"The event marked the culmination phase of the training exercise and validated the operational readiness of the strategic missile group equipped with Shaheen-1 Missiles," the statement said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan Ul Haq witnessed the launch exercise.

He hailed "the high standards achieved during training which was reflected in the successful launch and the accuracy of the missile in reaching the target," the statement said.

"Pakistan can be justifiably proud of its defence capability and the reliability of its nuclear deterrence," he added.

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