Pakistan test-fires long-range ballistic missile

Apr 29, 2006, 9:01 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan on Saturday successfully test-fired 'with outstanding results' an upgraded version of a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can hit a target up to 2,000 kilometres away, a military spokesman said.

The test of Shaheen II or Hataf-VI was conducted to validate additional technical parametres 'beyond those that were verified in the last test fire in March 2005,' the spokesman said in a statement.

The latest Shaheen II, that can also travel 2,500 kilometres in an advanced version, is a two-stage solid fuel missile which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with 'high accuracy.'

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who witnessed the launching of the missile from an undisclosed location, said that Pakistan was pursuing a strategy of 'credible minimum deterrence' to ensure peace in the region.

'The defence needs of the country will always remain a priority and the strategic programme which enjoys universal support within the country will go from strength to strength,' the statement quoted him as saying.

In an indirect reference to the recent US-India nuclear deal, Aziz said his country was fully aware of developments in the South Asian region and would never accept discrimination of any kind.

Pakistan says that the deal which awaits US Congressional approval and was signed during US President George W Bush's visit to India in March will have 'implications' for the strategic stability in the region.

Bush wants to help India develop its civilian nuclear energy programme, but is meeting resistance in Congress, which has expressed worry over the possible threat of nuclear weapons proliferation.

A strong ally to the US, Pakistan is demanding similar cooperation from Washington that has already been ruled out by the Bush administration.

'We will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear,' Aziz said.

President General Pervez Musharraf in a message congratulated the country's scientists and engineers for carrying out the latest test with outstanding success and said the nation was proud of them.

The nuclear-armed and often hostile neighbours - Pakistan and India - have been carrying out routine tests of different versions of delivery systems.

Pakistan first tested its nuclear-capable Ghauri-I intermediate range missile with 1,500 kilometres range in April 1998.

Since then, the country has conducted tests of surface-to-surface long range Shaheen-II or Hataf-VI, medium range Shaheen-I (Hatf-IV), short-range surface-to-surface Hatf-III or Ghaznavi and intermediate range ballistic missile Ghauri or Hatf-V.

Ghaznavi, Ghauri and Shaheen-I have already been handed over to Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command.

The latest test comes two days after Pakistan and India wrapped up three-day talks in Islamabad on boosting confidence-building measures both in nuclear and conventional field but failed to finalize a draft agreement on 'reducing risk of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons.'

The talks are part of the peace process called the Composite Dialogue, the two South Asian countries resumed in February 2004 after years of tension that brought them dangerously close to a full-scale war in 2002.

They have already fought three wars since their simultaneous independence from colonial rule in 1947.