South Asia News
Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable missile
Apr 21, 2008, 8:17 GMT
Islamabad - Pakistan on Monday successfully test-fired its longest range surface-surface ballistic missile for the second time in three days.
The launch conducted at an undisclosed location by the Army's Strategic Force Command 'marked the culmination of a field training exercise,' an army statement said.
The test validated the operational readiness of a strategic missile group equipped with Hatf-VI (Shaheen-2) missiles, which can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads up to a distance of 2,000 kilometres.
The launch exercise was witnessed by country's naval chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir and other senior military officers, scientists and engineers of strategic organizations, the statement said.
Pakistan's missile development programme is aimed mainly at what it calls maintaining strategic balance with its nuclear-armed rival India.
Both sides have fought three wars, the first two over the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir.
The last test-launch of Shaheen-2 was carried out on Saturday.
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