The Hindu : International : Pakistan test-fires missile

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

International

International

Pakistan test-fires missile

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 8. Pakistan today test-fired its surface-to-surface 700 km-range Shaheen-1 Hatf IV missile, which can carry all kinds of warheads, including nuclear weapons. The test was Pakistan's sixth this year and its second in 10 days.

The Director-General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Shaukat Sultan, said the tests were being conducted to meet technical requirements and to assess additional parameters of the missiles.

Maj. Gen. Sultan said Pakistan would continue to conduct missile tests as and when necessary.

`Not a signal'

A Foreign Office spokesman said the latest test was not meant to send any message to India. "It is not a signal to India. Maintaining our nuclear deterrence is a national priority. Such tests are conducted periodically to validate technical parameters of our missiles," he said.

The military said the recent tests were "indicative of the Government resolve to consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's nuclear deterrence capability." It said the President, Pervez Musharraf, and the Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, had congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the missile on their "outstanding success."

Gen. Musharraf, who is currently on a tour of France, told reporters in Paris that the latest test does not contradict Pakistan's policy of a rapprochement with India.

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