An announcement by the Inter-Services Public Relations said that a Shaheen-I (Hatf-IV) missile was “successfully tested” in the morning, without identifying the location from where it was fired.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of up to 700km (435 miles). “The test is part of the ongoing series of tests of Pakistan’s indigenous missile systems,” it said. Neighbouring countries had been given prior notification of the tests “in a spirit of confidence-building,” the statement said.

“All technical parameters required to be tested were successfully validated.”

The statement said the president and the prime minister congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the Shaheen-1 System on their outstanding success.

This was the second missile test conducted by Pakistan within a week. Both the tests were conducted during Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali’s visit to the United States.

Sources said Pakistan had abandoned its policy of responding to Indian tests. It tested the medium and short-range missiles months after India tested nuclear-capable Prithvi missile in April and short-range missile in June 2003.