Saturday, March 19 2005 12:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Amidst a row over the supply of nuclear centrifuges to Iran by disgraced scientist A Q Khan, Pakistan today (Mar 19, 2005) "successfully" test-fired its 2000 km long-range nuclear-capable Shaheen-II missile in an apparent attempt to demonstrate its determination to carry forward its missile programme.

The test firing of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets deep into the Indian Territory as well as the Middle East and elsewhere, was witnessed by President Pervez Musharraf, who congratulated Pakistani scientists and said the country will not only retain its nuclear and missile capability but strive to improve it.

Incidentally, Pakistan first test fired the same missile, also named Hatf-VI, around the same time last year and flaunted it as a match to India's Agni-II.

India and several other countries in the region had been notified about the missile test in advance as per existing practice as a Confidence Building Measure (CBM), an official statement in Islamabad said.

The test of the long-range surface-to-surface missile Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) was "successfully" carried out, it said, without mentioning where it took place.

The missile system incorporating an "advanced 2-stage solid motor technology," can carry all types of conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 2000 km, it said.

"The test was carried out to verify some of the refined technical parameters," the statement said, adding, "With the grace of God all parameters were validated."