ISLAMABAD, 4 October 2003 — Pakistan test fired an indigenous short-range nuclear-capable missile early yesterday, the military announced, its first test since peace overtures began with rival nuclear power India six months ago. “Pakistan carried out a successful test fire of its indigenously developed short-range surface to surface ballistic missile Hatf III Ghaznavi,” an official military statement said.
Islamabad notified neighboring countries ahead of the test, and more tests would be conducted in coming days, it said.
The test was conducted at 8:42 a.m. (0342 GMT), spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan told AFP. He would not reveal the location.
The missile test is Pakistan’s second this year but the first since a peace process was initiated between Islamabad and New Delhi in April. The process has been floundering in recent weeks with the two sides accusing each other of hampering efforts to mend ties. The military, however, said the timing of the test reflects Pakistan’s “determination not to engage in a tit-for-tat syndrome to other tests in the region.”
The test is the second of the Ghaznavi, which has a range of 290 kilometers (180 miles). The Ghaznavi is capable of carrying “all types of warheads accurately,” the statement said. “The test was part of a series of tests to be conducted in the next few days to validate the design parameters of various missile systems,” it said. “Pakistan will maintain the pace of its own missile development program and conduct tests as per its technical needs.”
India has conducted several missile tests this year but Pakistan has refrained from immediately launching its own tests in response. Last year the rival neighbors engaged in a series of tit-for-tat tests as a million of their troops faced off across their border on the brink of war.
Pakistan last tested a missile on March 26, when it fired the short-range Abdali (Hatf II) missile on the same day as India launched its Prithivi missile.
The military said yesterday’s “second successful test fire of the indigenously developed Ghaznavi missile system bears testimony to the professional excellence of Pakistani scientists and engineers.”
President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali “have congratulated the officers and men on their outstanding success.”
Defense analyst Talat Masood said Pakistan was pursuing its missile program because it has been denied acquisition of modern aircraft. “It is relying on its missile program mainly as a substitute to modern aircraft which are not available to it due to military sanctions,” said Masood, who is a retired army general.
Masood believed that yesterday’s test was a message to the outside world that, despite sanctions and difficulties, Pakistan has developed the capability of giving the country a certain level of defense.
After conducting nuclear tests in May 1998, India and Pakistan launched missile development programs leading to a series of tests of long, medium and short range projectiles.
The United States and other major powers have been concerned over missile tests by the neighbors, who have fought three wars since the subcontinent was divided on independence from Britain in 1947.
