Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile

Pakistan on Wednesday tested an intermediate-range nuclear capable ballistic missile, a launch which experts said was a response to India's Agni-V missile test last week.

Pakistan's army, in a statement, said it had successfully launched the Hatf IV Shaheen-1A missile, to an impact point in the Arabian Sea. The missile, which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads, has a wider range than previous versions, the army statement said.

"The improved version of Shaheen 1A will further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's deterrence abilities," it said.

According to a recent report by Reaching Critical Will, a New York-based non-governmental organization that promotes disarmament, an earlier version of the missile was deployed in 2003 and has a range of 750 kilometers. Pakistan's longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, the Hatf VI Shaheen-2, can travel about 2,000 kilometers, well into Indian territory, according to data cited by Reaching Critical Will.

But much about Pakistan's ballistic weapons program remains unknown. "Despite frequent media reports, the capabilities of Pakistan's nuclear weapon delivery systems, and the current status of their technical development and operational readiness is unclear," the report added.

Talat Masood, a retired Pakistan army general, said the missile launch was definitely timed to showcase Pakistan's capabilities after India's test last week.

"It's a sort of competition that's been going on," Mr. Masood said. "I'm sure these missiles are always ready for firing."

India's Agni-V test last week garnered considerable global attention because of the missile's ability to travel 5,000 kilometers before impact, well beyond a previous 3,000-kilometer range of earlier versions.

That allows New Delhi to strike deep into Chinese territory, giving it a serious deterence over its rival for the first time, although Beijing's nuclear missiles and conventional armed forces remain far ahead of India's.

India has testy relations with both Pakistan and China. Beijing has close ties with Pakistan, whom it has helped to develop military and civilian nuclear capabilities.

Pakistan, which cannot match India's spending on conventional forces, has been racing to increase its nuclear arsenal. The nation now has over 100 warheads, according to some estimates, putting it slightly ahead of India.

Both countries exploded nuclear devices in 1998 - tests which drew international condemnation and pushed the U.S. to temporarily slap economic sanctions on both countries.

Since then, the U.S. has rewarded India's strong non-proliferation record by agreeing in 2005 to allow U.S. companies to sell nuclear fuel to India for civil reactors.

Pakistan's history of selling nuclear secrets means the U.S. has declined to offer the same kind of deal to Islamabad, which remains reliant on Chinese help for its nuclear program.