Islamabad: Pakistan today (Nov 29, 2004) test fired its short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which could carry nuclear and conventional warheads up to the range of 290 kms.

New Delhi was informed about the launch as per the understanding between the two countries, an official said making it clear it was not against India and "is part of the Pakistan's missile development programme".

"A successful test of the indigenous surface-to-surface solid-fuel missile Hatf-III Ghaznavi with a range of 290 kilometers was conducted," an official statement in Islamabad said.

"Today's test is part of a series of test planned by Pakistan," Pakistan's Defence spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said adding, "We can not reveal schedule."

He said though Ghaznavi has been inducted into the Army it required testing to improve some of its parameters. "Whenever we felt it is necessary the tests will be conducted. This is part of our missile development programme," he told private Geo Television. The test was part of a series of tests planned to be conducted in order to verify certain parameters and to further refine different subsystems of the missile. The flight date collected indicates that all the design parameters have been successfully validated, the statement said.

Today's test came in the wake of India test-firing its surface-to-surface missile, Aakash, on Friday (Nov 27, 2004).