Ghaznavi (missile)

The Hatf-III named Ghaznavi Missile (غزنوی میسایل) is a short range ballistic missile (SRBM) with an optimal range of 290 km, produced by Pakistan and named after the 11th century Afghan conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni. The missile has a length of 9.64m, diameter of 0.99 m, launch weight of 5256 kg and is powered by a single stage solid fuel rocket motor. It is believed to be based on a Chinese design, the M-11 (NATO reporting name: CSS-7).

Operational history
The Ghaznavi was reported to have been test-launched in late September/early October 2003 and was reported to be ready for service in March 2004. Another test launch occurred in late November 2004, with two more 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 Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC). In May 2012, one more successful test of the missile was conducted as part of a training exercise.

Criticism
In 2006, the Afghan Minister of Information and Culture criticized Pakistan for naming its lethal ballistic missiles and other weaponry after Muslim kings and rulers (i.e. Abdali, Ghaznavid, Ghorid and Mughal rulers) arguing that their names should be bracketed with academic, cultural and peace-promoting institutions, not with tools of destruction and killing. Pakistan declined to change the missiles' names stating that these Muslim rulers are considered heroes in Pakistan as well, and naming missiles after them is not controversial. The Afghan government has not raised this issue since then.