ISLAMABAD, March 8: Pakistan has finalized preparations to test-fire a long-range nuclear-capable missile within the next 48 hours, official sources told Dawn.

"The test is likely to take place anytime, shortly," said foreign office spokesman Masood Khan in reply to a question about the timing of the tests. A defence ministry official said the test was likely to be conducted within the next 48 hours.

A cabinet minister said the schedule for test fire of the indigenously-built nuclear-capable Shaheen-II was finalized during the meetings of the National Command Authority (NCA).

The NCA held meetings on Jan 31 and Feb 4, after which President Pervez Musharraf announced Pakistan would carry out tests of the 2,000-kilometre range Shaheen-II missiles.

"It will be of a fairly long range," military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said when asked about the range of the missile and its test site targets. "At this stage, I cannot go into details of the range and where it would be test fired," he said.

Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan reached Karachi on Monday evening seemingly in connection with the proposed test, a source said. In response to a question if India had been informed about the test as part of the agreed CBMs between the two countries, Mr Masood Khan said: "Yes, we have."

"When we conduct the tests, we inform the neighbours. Depending upon the trajectory of the missile you have to inform all concerned," he said. Pakistan had some discussions with India on nuclear restraint regime and the memorandum of understanding between the two countries includes advance sharing of information about missile tests, he said.

The foreign office spokesman said Pakistan's strategic force goals were determined by the requirements of minimum overt deterrence. "We have to test these missiles from time to time." The reach of missiles, he said, should be enough to deter aggression.

Officials said possibly three different missiles with variable payloads would be test fired to verify new parameters and technological advancements. Experts said Shaheen-II's range made it capable of striking anywhere in India.

Sources said Shaheen-II "is described as two-stage, solid fuel 2000-2500 kilometre range missile" capable of carrying 1,000kg payload. Pakistan flight-tested solid-fuelled Abdali (Hatf-2) and Ghaznavi (Hatf-3) missiles, as well as liquid-fuelled Ghauri (Hatf-5) missile in May 2002.

The Shaheen-I (Hatf-4) solid-fuelled missile was flown in October 2002 and the Abdali missile again in March 2003. In October 2003, Pakistan launched another series of tests in which it flight-tested the Ghaznavi and Shaheen-I missiles again.