ISLAMABAD,
May 25 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Pakistan successfully test
fired a nuclear-capable missile Saturday amid fears of war with
nuclear rival India. Meanwhile, their troops exchanged fire across
their borders in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir for the
ninth consecutive day, news agencies reported.
"Pakistan today carried out a successful test fire of its
indigenously developed medium range surface to surface ballistic
missile Hatf V (Ghauri)," said an official statement, reported
Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"This was the third test of the Ghauri missile system. According
to the data collected from the test, all the design parameters have
been successfully validated.
"The Ghauri can carry warheads with great accuracy," the
statement said, adding that Pakistan's last missile tests were in
April 1999.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf "has congratulated the
scientists, engineers and all others involved with the program on
their outstanding success which is a source of pride for the nation.
"The series of tests are a part of the research and development
of Pakistan's indigenous missile program, which is an essential
element of Pakistan's policy of maintaining minimum deterrence in the
interest of our security.
"It demonstrates Pakistan's determination to defend itself,
strengthen national security and consolidate strategic balance in the
region."
The missile was fired in northern Pakistan, a security officer said,
adding: "Hatf-V can be tipped with any warhead. Any ballistic
missile can carry a nuclear warhead."
He said the missiles had a range of between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometers
(about 900 and 1,200 miles).
On Friday, Islamabad notified New Delhi that it would conduct a series
of missile tests over the next few days.
In
an immediate Indian reaction Saturday, an Indian Defense spokesman
said New Delhi was "not impressed" by Pakistan's test
firing.
"We are not impressed by this kind of thing. We have no reaction
to this. Whatever reaction we have, has already been given through the
External Affairs Ministry," Defense spokesman P.K. Bandyopandhyay
told AFP in New Delhi.
Pakistan,
for its part, said the tests were routine and had "nothing to do
with the current situation".
"We
are disappointed in this," said U.S. State Department deputy
spokesman Philip Reeker.
"They are fully aware of our position, we have made quite clear
that we think, given the current situation, the focus should be on
steps to reduce tensions in the region.
"We continue to urge both sides to take steps to restrain their
missile programs and their nuclear weapons programs, including that
there be no operational deployment of nuclear-armed ballistic
missiles," he added.
Meanwhile,
the two countries exchanged heavy gun fire along the border line in
disputed Kashmir, know as Line of Control (LoC), for the ninth day
running today, while seven people, including five suspected Kashmiri
independence claiming activists and two Indian security personnel,
were killed in a shootout early Saturday in Kashmir, according to
Indian police sources.
Acting on a tip-off, Indian police and troops late Friday surrounded
an area where a group of activists were believed to be hiding in
Kashmir's Rajouri district, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the
winter capital Jammu.
When Indian troops cordoned off the area, the Kashmiris opened fire on
them, prompting retaliatory fire from the Indian forces, a police
spokesman said.
Five Kashmiris, a policeman and a soldier were killed in the ensuing
encounter which ended Saturday morning, he said.
Some of the activists managed to escape into the nearby forests. Four
Indian soldiers and one policeman were also injured in the operation.
