April 20, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 19: Pakistan successfully test-fired a long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile on Saturday, the military said.

“The missile Hatf-VI (Shaheen-2) has a range of 2,000km and can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads,” the military said in a statement.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani watched the test of the surface-to-surface missile and congratulated engineers and scientists for achieving an “important milestone” in Pakistan’s quest for sustaining strategic balance in South Asia, it said.

The military cited Prime Minister Gilani as saying the missile and nuclear programme enjoyed complete national consensus and would continue to be consolidated and strengthened.

“He made it clear that Pakistan’s strategy of credible minimum deterrence is fully in place and is a guarantee of peace in the region.”

The prime minister also gave an assurance that the country’s defence needs would remain a high priority with the elected government, it said.—Reuters