Pakistan tests long-range missile

“The launch was very successful. It hit the target with complete accuracy,” Abbas said.
  
Engineers thanked

 

According to a military statement, Yousaf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, watched the test of the surface-to-surface missile.

 

He congratulated engineers and scientists for achieving an “important milestone” in Pakistan’s quest for sustaining strategic balance in South Asia.

The military cited Gilani as saying the missile and nuclear programme enjoyed complete national consensus and would continue to be consolidated and strengthened.
    
The statement also said that the test was conducted as part of technical improvements to verify Pakistan’s land-based strategic missile systems.

‘Routine test’
  
Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India routinely carry out missile tests despite a peace process they launched in early 2004.
   
The South Asian neighbours, who conducted tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests in 1998, inform each other of missile tests in advance.
   
Pranab Mukherjee, the Indian foreign minister, is due to visit Pakistan next month for a review of the peace process.
   
Pakistan and India have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, and came close to a fourth in 2002.