Thursday, August 11 2005 20:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (Aug 11, 2005) "successfully" test-fired its "indigenously developed" first-ever ground-launched Cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which could reach targets upto 500 kms and believed to be a match to India's Brahmos missile.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf described the successful launch of Hatf VII Babur as a "major milestone" in the country's nuclear programme.

"Our scientists and engineers have once again done the nation proud by mustering a rare technology," he said.

Without naming India, he said the test would reflect the country's resolve to meet emerging challenges and geo-strategic developments in its neighbourhood.

With the successful test of the missile, Pakistan has joined a select group of countries, which have the capability to design and develop Cruise missiles, a Defence Ministry statement said.

The "terrain hugging missile" has the most advanced and modern navigation and guidance system and a high degree of manoeuvrability, the statement said which did not mention the time or the location of the test.

Pakistan did not inform India about the test as an agreement reached between the two countries over the weekend on pre-notification of missile tests does not cover Cruise missiles.

"The agreement on pre-notification of ballistic missiles, which has been finalised but not yet signed in New Delhi, does not cover pre-notification of Cruise missile tests," a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying in the media.

Pakistan has so far test-fired a range of small, medium and long range ballistic missiles with a range upto 1500-2000 km but this is for the first time that it has launched a Cruise missile.

All the missiles have the capability to strike many Indian cities.

It is believed to be a match to India's Brahmos missile. However, the Pakistan missile does not have a supersonic range like Brahmos.

The military said the technology used in the missile enables it to avoid radar detection and penetrate un-detected through any hostile defensive systems.

"By the grace of Allah all design parameters for the flight were validated", the statement said adding that Babur Cruise missile has the capability to carry nuclear and conventional warheads upto a range of 500 kms.

It also said that the missile was indigenously developed. "It is designed and developed by an elite team of scientists and engineers of Pakistan's Strategic Organisations," the statement said.