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Pakistan test-fires n-capable missile

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Oct. 3. Pakistan today test-fired an indigenous short-range nuclear-capable missile. It is the first such test by Islamabad since the Vajpayee peace initiative in April this year.

"Pakistan carried out a successful test fire of its indigenously developed short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III Ghaznavi," an official military statement said. The test is the second of the Ghaznavi, which has a range of 290 km. As per the standard practice, Pakistan had notified the neighbouring countries, including India, before the test. They had also been told that more tests would follow in the coming days.

The last test of the missile, capable of carrying all types of warheads, was conducted in March this year. Today's test took place at 8.12 a.m. (Indian Standard Time) at an undisclosed destination.

The military statement claimed that the timing of the test reflected Pakistan's "determination not to engage in a tit-for-tat syndrome to other tests in the region."

"The test was part of a series of tests to be conducted in the next few days to validate the design parameters of various missile systems. Pakistan will maintain the pace of its own missile development programme and conduct tests as per its technical needs," the statement said. It added that the "second successful test-fire of the indigenously developed Ghaznavi missile system bears testimony to the professional excellence of Pakistani scientists and engineers."

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