Pakistan tests another nuclear-capable missile

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday tested a missile that can carry nuclear warheads, the second such test in a week, the military said. ?

"Pakistan today successfully test-fired the Short Range Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile Hatf II (Abdali), as part of the process of validation of land based ballistic missile systems," an army statement said.

Hatf II (Abdali), with a range of 180 km, can carry nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy.

The test was witnessed by Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Commander Army Strategic forces Command, Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.

The president and prime minister of Pakistan have congratulated the scientists and engineers on this outstanding achievement which consolidates Pakistan's deterrence capability both at the operational and strategic levels, the statement said.

It was the second missile test by Pakistan in a week.

On Monday, Pakistani military said it had conducted a successful test fire of a short range Surface to Surface Missile Hatf IX (NASR), which has a range of 60 km and can carry nuclear warheads.

Pakistan, which tested nuclear tests in 1998 in response to Indian tests, has several missile series.