Pakistan test fires long-range ballistic missile
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, April 29, IRNA
Pakistan-Missile
Pakistan today carried out a successful test fire of its long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf VI (Shaheen II) with outstanding results, an army statement said.
The missile test was conducted to validate additional technical parameters beyond those that were verified in the last testfire in March 2006, it said.
Hatf-VI Shaheen II is Pakistan's longest-range ballistic missile system with a range of 2000 kilometers and has the potential to achieve 2500 kilometers 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.
The test was witnessed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who congratulated the scientists, engineers and technical staff of Pakistan's strategic organizations on achieving yet another milestone on the road to success, it said.
Speaking after the successful test, the prime minister made it clear that Pakistan's strategy of credible minimum deterrence was duly in place and was a guarantee to peace in the region.
"Pakistan would never accept any kind of discrimination of any kind. We will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear," he added.
In a separate message, President General Pervez Musharraf also congratulated the test for its outstanding success, and said the nation was proud of its scientists and engineers.
Pakistan had informed India and other countries in the region of its decision to test fire Shaheen II.
2020/235/2321/1414
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