ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Pakistan successfully test-fired a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile on Sunday, a military statement said. It said the Hatf-II/Abdali ground-to-ground missile had a range of 200km (125 miles) and could carry “nuclear and other types of warheads”.

“All planned technical parameters were validated,” the statement said. It gave no more details nor the site of the test, which was announced as President Pervez Musharraf was due to leave for a five-day state visit to China.

In a reference to neighbouring countries, the statement said advance notice of the test had been given to “all concerned”.

This was the second test-firing of the Hatf-II. The first took place in March last year when the missile’s range was given as 180km.—Reuters