Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable missile

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable, short-range and surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Monday, the military said.

The Hatf-2 ballistic missile can travel up to 180 km and carry nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy, the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The test is part of the process of validation of land based ballistic missile system, it said.

"The test provides an operational level capability to Pakistan's strategic forces, in addition to the strategic and technical level capability which Pakistan already possesses," the military said.

Test was witnessed by director general of Strategic Planning Division, Lt. Gen. (retd) Khalid Kidwai and Commander of Strategic Force Command Lt Gen Tariq Nadeem Gilani.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani congratulated the army and its engineers involved in the missile system on the successful test of the ballistic missile.

The statement did not identify the site of the test.