Pakistan test-fires long-range missile

Pakistan on Saturday carried out a successful test-fire of its long range surface to surface missile Shaheen-II (Hatf VI), a military statement said.

This missile system, which incorporates an advanced two stage solid motor technology, can carry all types of conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 2,000 kilometers.

"The test was carried out to verify some of the refined technical parameters," the statement said.

"Al Hamd-o-Lillah' (With the grace of God) all parameters were validated," it said.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, who witnessed the test-fire, congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding success.

Musharraf said the nation was proud of its strategic organizations and strategic forces, which had gelled extremely well under the National Command Authority into an effective deterrence force in a short span of five years.

This technical and operational readiness was praise-worthy and a source of strength and security for Pakistan, he said.

The president reiterated Pakistan's policy of consolidating and strengthening its minimum deterrence needs, as well as strict adherence to non-proliferation.

He said that the nation's nuclear capability had been developed for Pakistan's own security and would continue to receive the highest national priority.

"The capability was here to stay, will continue to go from strength to strength and no harm will ever be allowed to come to it," Musharraf said.

Earlier, prior notification about the flight-test had been given to the neighboring countries, as per existing practice as a Confidence Building Measure, according to the statement.