Pakistan test-fires Shaheen-II missile

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday test-fired the Shaheen-II long-range ballistic missile for the second time in three days that can carry nuclear and conventional warheads and hit targets deep inside India. The Shaheen-II or Hatf-VI surface-to-surface nuclear capable missile, which has a range of 2,000 km, was launched for the first time by the army���s Strategic Forces Command to mark the culmination of a field training exercise.

All previous launches of the Shaheen-II were conducted by defence scientists and engineers. PM Yousuf Raza Gillani had witnessed the last test of the Shaheen-II on Saturday. Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir also witnessed the launch along with senior military officials.

Tahir appreciated the efforts of civilian and military personnel that had made it possible for ���Pakistan to fully consolidate and operationalise its nuclear capability,��� said a statement issued by the military. He also said that Pakistan can be ���justifiably proud of the reliability of its nuclear deterrence���.

Monday���s test ���validated the operational readiness of a strategic missile group equipped with the Shaheen-II missile,��� the statement said. The previous test, the military said, was ���part of the process of validation and technical improvements to consolidate and verify various land-based strategic missile systems���.

The Shaheen-II is Pakistan���s longest range ballistic missile and was first tested in 2004. It is a two-stage solid fuel missile that can carry nuclear and conventional warheads. Pakistan conducted a series of missile tests between December last year and February in the run-up to the general election that was swept by president Pervez Musharraf���s opponents in the Pakistan People���s Party and PML-N.