DATE=4/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248120
TITLE=PAK MISSILE TEST / L
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN CONDUCTED ITS SECOND MISSILE TEST IN TWO DAYS IN
RESPONSE TO A MISSILE TEST SUNDAY BY INDIA. AS CORRESPONDENT
SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, PAKISTAN SAYS THURSDAY'S LAUNCH CONCLUDES --
FOR NOW -- A SERIES OF TEST FLIGHTS INVOLVING THE TWO TYPES OF
ROCKETS IT MAINTAINS IN ITS ARSENAL.
TEXT: PAKISTAN SAYS THE PREVIOUSLY-UNTESTED SHAHEEN MISSILE
SUCCESSFULLY SOARED TO A TARGET IN THE ARABIAN SEA, FROM A BASE
ON PAKISTAN'S SOUTHERN COAST.
OFFICIALS SAY THE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE, SHORT-RANGE MISSILE HAS A
600-KILOMETER RANGE AND CAN BE TIPPED WITH ANY TYPE OF WARHEAD.
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE SHAHEEN WILL HELP MAINTAIN A
STRATEGIC BALANCE IN SOUTH ASIA AND STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY'S
NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE TEST CONCLUDES PAKISTAN'S MISSILE TRIALS, WHICH BEGAN
WEDNESDAY WHEN PAKISTAN TEST-FIRED THE GHAURI-TWO LONG RANGE
MISSILE IN RESPONSE TO INDIA'S TESTING THE AGNI-TWO MISSILE,
SUNDAY.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN AN ARMS RACE SINCE BOTH
COUNTRIES CONDUCTED BACK-TO-BACK NUCLEAR TESTS LAST YEAR.
PAKISTAN NOTIFIED INDIA BEFORE THE TEST, IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN
AGREEMENT SIGNED IN FEBRUARY. THE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION IS AIMED
AT PREVENTING AN ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES, WHICH HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS IN THE LAST 50-YEARS.
THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA AND JAPAN HAVE EXPRESSED REGRET OVER
THE CURRENT TESTS. (SIGNED)
NEB / SA / WD / WD
15-Apr-99 4:00 AM EDT (0800 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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