ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Pakistan, locked in a military standoff with India, said it successfully test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile on Tuesday two days before it holds a general election.

The test was the second and last in a series that analysts said was a signal to India at a time of increased tension and aimed to enhance the military’s image just two days before it officially hands the country over to civilian rule.

It also coincided with the last phase of a state assembly election in held Kashmir.

While not seen as a direct vote-winner for pro-Musharraf parties in Thursday’s poll, analysts said the missile test is the military’s way of showing that the country needs a strong general at the helm.

Musharraf will remain as president for another five years after the poll, and although he has promised to hand power over to an elected parliament, analysts and ordinary Pakistanis expect him to go on running the country.

He has been accused by political opponents of a brazen attempt to hold on to power by banning key opponents, enhancing his powers, extending his tenure by five years in a widely criticised referendum and backing a key political party.

“All this interference is going to undermine the credibility of elections,” said Afrasiab Khattack, chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

“The blatant manner in which the electoral process is being vulgarised and the will of the people mocked is extremely worrying,” the group added in a statement.

INDIAN TENSIONS: Tuesday’s missile test was the second in five days and a repeat of Friday’s successful launch of a medium-range Hatf-IV (Shaheen-1) surface-to-surface missile.