Pakistan test-fires ballistic missile

Pakistan on Friday test-fired a nuclear capable medium-range, surface-to-surface Ghauri missile, amilitary spokesman said here.

"Pakistan this morning carried out second successful test fire of its indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf-V (Ghauri)," spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.

The missile can hit the target at 1500 kilometers.

The same missile was first test-fired on May 29.

The spokesman said the missile traveled up-to 900 kilometers in range and all the required parameters and designs were testified 100 percent.

The test witnessed by President General Pervez Musharraf and other senior military officials.

President Musharraf in his address to the engineers and soldiers said the Pakistan nuclear and missile program will stay and there will be no compromise or role back, the spokesman said.

Asked as to why the second test of the same missile was conducted in less than a week, the spokesman said: "The test was aimed at improving the technical parameters of missile system."

He said that according to the data collected from the test all design parameters have been successfully validated.

He did not offer any comment about the area where the test has been conducted but said the launching and the target area was in Pakistan.

The neighboring countries including India were given advance information about the test in accordance with the laws, officials said.

India had expressed concern over first test of the Hatf-V (Ghauri) missile on May 29 and said it may lead to arms race in theregion. Pakistan rejected India's concern and said the test was not directed to any other country.

Officials said the missile has been tested to continue time totime qualitative improvement of the country's ballistic missile system.