Pakistan test-fired on Wednesday a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets deep inside arch-rival India.
The military said Pakistan had informed neighboring countries about the test — a practice also observed by India, which regularly tests its own nuclear-capable missiles.
“Pakistan today carried out a successful test fire of its indigenously developed, medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Hatf-IV Shaheen-I,” it said in a statement.
“The missile is capable of reaching targets up to 700 kms (430 miles) and can carry nuclear and other types of warheads,” it said.
On Nov. 29, Pakistan test-fired a short-range, nuclear capable Hatf-III Ghaznavi with a range of 181 miles.
A day later, India test-fired its short range, surface-to-surface Akash missile, which can hit targets up to 15 miles.
A slow-moving peace process
Pakistan and India are in the midst of a peace process that has struggled to gather momentum since a change in government in New Delhi earlier this year.
Foreign secretaries of both countries are due to meet later this month to discuss security issues and Kashmir. The venue is still to be decided.
Pakistani and Indian officials say their missile tests are neither a response to tests by their rivals, or aimed at eliciting a reaction.
“The recently conducted successful missile tests, carried out for technical reasons, are nevertheless indicative of the government’s resolve to consolidate and strengthen Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence capability,” the Pakistani statement said.
Islamabad says its missile program is indigenous, though experts say Pakistan has received Chinese and North Korean help.
Pakistan’s Hatf series of missiles is named after an ancient sword mentioned in Islamic historical texts, and it includes both Shaheen and Ghauri versions.
The Ghauri has a range of 940 miles and is capable of hitting most Indian cities and can carry a payload of 1,985 lbs.
Since India and Pakistan conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998, the international community, notably the United States, has more actively encouraged the two old enemies to embark on a peace process to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Since independence from Britain in 1947, two of their three wars have been fought over Kashmir.