After India, Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile
Pakistan Wednesday successfully launched an upgraded ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, days after India tested its 5,000-km range missile that can reach deep inside China and East Europe.
The Hatf IV Shaheen-1A missile capable of "carrying nuclear and conventional warheads" was fired into the sea, Pakistan military said in a written statement.
"The missile is an improved version of Shaheen-1 with improvements in range and technical parameters."
The test came barely a week after India test-fired an Agni 5, a long-range ballistic missile, also capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The military said it is as an intermediate-range missile having a longer range than Shaheen-1, which can fly up to 750 kilometers.
"(It) will further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's deterrence abilities," said Lt. Gen. Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, who witnessed the launch and is responsible for the country's nuclear programme.
The range of the newly tested missile was not clear but it is known that intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers.
If the new missile is indeed an intermediate-range missile, it would represent a quantum leap from the previous version of Pakistan's military strategic ability.
BBC quoted unnamed defence experts as saying that the Pakistani missile could be capable of hitting targets up to 2,500 to 3,000 kilometers.
Before the Wednesday's launch, Pakistan longest range missile was believed to be Shaheen II that is capable of hitting a target 2,000 kilometers away, which is far enough to hit targets anywhere in India Pakistan's arch enemy.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since 1947 and the two bitter neighbours have conducted regular missile tests but inform each other in advance.
Both countries carried out nuclear weapons tests in 1998.
Source: The Asia News.Net
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