Islamabad: Pakistan, keen to maintain the balance of power with India, on Saturday test-fired a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km.
Pakistan and India, which stunned the world with tit-for-tat nuclear tests in 1998, embarked on a peace process just over two years ago.
But Pakistan is concerned over recent US promises of high-tech aid for rival India, fearing it could help New Delhi build its defence capability.
"Pakistan today carried out a successful test fire of its long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf VI (Shaheen II) with outstanding results," Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.
The Hatf VI is a two-stage solid fuel missile, which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy, the statement said. An advanced version has a potential range of 2,500 km.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz witnessed the test, which took place at an undisclosed location.
"Pakistan's strategy of credible minimum deterrence is fully in place and is a guarantee of peace in the region", he was quoted as saying.
"We will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear," Aziz said.
Pakistan and India have signed an agreement to notify each other about ballistic missile testing ahead of the event but the pre-notification of cruise missile tests is excluded from the treaty.
India already has cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines.
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