PAK-MISSILEPak test-fires longest-range surface-to-surface missileK J M VARMA ISLAMABAD, APR 29 (PTI)
Pakistan today test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile which could hit targets beyond 2,000 kms covering most parts of India.
Shortly after the test-fire of Hatf VI (Shaheen II) surface-to-surface missile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said "Pakistan will never accept any kind of discrimination. We will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear." Aziz, who witnessed the test, was apparently referring to the US refusal to offer a nuclear deal to Pakistan similar to the one Washington has signed with India.
He made it clear that "Pakistan's strategy of credible minimum deterrence is duly in place and is at guarantee of peace in the region," a military statement said.
"Pakistan carried out a successful test-fire of its surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf VI (Shaheen II) with outstanding results," the statement said.
"The missile test was conducted to validate additional technical parameters beyond those that were verified in the last test-fire in March 2006," it said.
Hatf-VI is Pakistan's longest-range ballistic missile system and it also has the potential to achieve 2500 kilometres in an advanced version, the army statement said.
"It is a two-stage solid fuel missile which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy.
Aziz congratulated scientists, engineers and technical staff of Pakistan's strategic organisations on achieving yet another milestone "on the road to success," the statement said. In a separate message, President Pervez Musharraf also congratulated the scientists and engineers for the successful test and said that the nation was proud of them.
Pakistan had informed India and other countries in the region about its decision to test-fire the missile. The missile test was conducted a day after the US and Pakistan entered into a two-day dialogue to forge strategic partnership with the Bush administration once again refusing to offer a civilian nuclear energy deal to Islamabad.
Pakistan today test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile which could hit targets beyond 2,000 kms covering most parts of India.
Shortly after the test-fire of Hatf VI (Shaheen II) surface-to-surface missile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said "Pakistan will never accept any kind of discrimination. We will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear." Aziz, who witnessed the test, was apparently referring to the US refusal to offer a nuclear deal to Pakistan similar to the one Washington has signed with India.
He made it clear that "Pakistan's strategy of credible minimum deterrence is duly in place and is at guarantee of peace in the region," a military statement said.
"Pakistan carried out a successful test-fire of its surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf VI (Shaheen II) with outstanding results," the statement said.
"The missile test was conducted to validate additional technical parameters beyond those that were verified in the last test-fire in March 2006," it said.
Hatf-VI is Pakistan's longest-range ballistic missile system and it also has the potential to achieve 2500 kilometres in an advanced version, the army statement said.
"It is a two-stage solid fuel missile which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy.
Aziz congratulated scientists, engineers and technical staff of Pakistan's strategic organisations on achieving yet another milestone "on the road to success," the statement said. In a separate message, President Pervez Musharraf also congratulated the scientists and engineers for the successful test and said that the nation was proud of them.
Pakistan had informed India and other countries in the region about its decision to test-fire the missile. The missile test was conducted a day after the US and Pakistan entered into a two-day dialogue to forge strategic partnership with the Bush administration once again refusing to offer a civilian nuclear energy deal to Islamabad.