Islamabad: Pakistan said yesterday's (Dec 8, 2004) test-firing of its nuclear-capable ballistic missile, having a range of 700 km, will not affect the ongoing dialogue process with India and create a tense atmosphere between the two countries.

"The test will not cast any negative impact on the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India," Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told a private local television.

"Pakistan believes the test will not create a tense atmosphere between Pakistan and India," he said referring to the test-firing of the medium-range Hatf-IV Shaheen-I missile.

He said the test was not aimed at sending a message to anyone but the objective was to boost capability in missile technology, adding Pakistan wants to correct the conventional imbalance in the region.

Khan said concrete steps are underway for restoration of Confidence Building Measures and expressed the hope that the missile test will not affect the forthcoming Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries.