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Pakistan Tests Long-Range Nuke-Capable Missile
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'Shaheen
II', a long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of
carrying a nuclear warhead deep into India (AFP)
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ISLAMABAD,
March 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Pakistan has
test-fired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of carrying
a nuclear warhead deep into rival India, according to the military
Tuesday, March 9.
Falling
on the eve of India's first cricket tour to Pakistan since 1989 and in
the midst of a peace process with its nuclear neighbor, the test
proved Pakistan's intention to maintain a nuclear deterrent, the
military said, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"It
reflects Pakistan's resolve to maintain minimum credible deterrence as
the cornerstone of its security policy," a military statement
said.
The
test was the first of the locally-built Shaheen II or Hatf-VI missile,
which can carry warheads up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
"By
the grace of Allah, all the planned technical parameters were
successfully validated during the test fire," the statement said.
Pakistan
and India are currently mending ties after coming to the brink of war
two years ago.
The
peace moves, combined with international condemnation of nuclear
proliferation by Pakistan's nuclear program founder Abdul Qadeer Khan,
triggered fears among some Pakistanis that the government would be
pressed to wind down its nuclear program.
President
Pervez Musharraf, previewing the test during a press conference last
month, had "categorically dismissed apprehensions of a roll
back," the military stressed in its statement.
Musharraf
and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali congratulated personnel involved
in the "successful development and launching" of the
Shaheen-II missile system, as per the statement.
Shaheen-II
is the longest-range missile tested by Pakistan so far.
Pakistan's
arsenal includes the Ghauri missile - test fired in 1997 - which can
hit targets up to 1,500 kilometers.
Political
analyst Mohammad Afzal Niazi said the latest test indicates the two
countries continue to harbor suspicions, despite the recent thaw
including the cricket diplomacy.
"It
is clear that both India and Pakistan have indicated that (in) their
assessment, which appears realistic, that the peace process is still
too preliminary for either side to delay or suspend their military
preparation," Niazi told AFP.
Military
analysts believe the latest Pakistani test was to prove that its
missiles can cover almost all of India's territory.
"Pakistan's
nuclear program and missile capability, both are India-specific,"
former army chief General Aslam Beg told AFP.
"A
combination of missiles with short and mid-range indicates that
Pakistan can now cover almost all territories in India as well as the
Indian Ocean. That gives a meaningful capability to Pakistan."
The
rival neighbors have fought three wars, two of them over the festering
Kashmir dispute since their independence from Britain in 1947.
General
Beg did not believe Tuesday's test would have an adverse effect on the
newly initiated peace process between India and Pakistan.
"I
don't think it is going to have any impact on the mood or modalities
of the peace process," he said.
"It
is understood (in India) that the test was a routine experiment to
ensure effectiveness and capability of the system."
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