ISLAMABAD, 9 March 2004 — Pakistan said yesterday it will soon test a 2,000-km (1,250-mile) range missile and has forewarned key countries, including its nuclear rival India.
“You should expect this flight test any time shortly,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told a weekly press briefing, stressing New Delhi had had been informed about the impending test of Shaheen-II missile. “We always inform neighbors and key countries,” Khan said.
Pakistan has said the missile has a range of over 2,000 km (1,200 miles), although one Pakistani newspaper has reported its range could be as high as 3,000 km (1,900 miles).
The new missile exceeds the 1,500-km (930-mile) reach of the Ghauri, previously Pakistan’s longest-range missile which some say was developed with North Korean help.
Pakistan says its weapons program is a response to that of India, with which it has fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
The planned test of the Shaheen II comes amid intense scrutiny of Pakistan’s nuclear program after revelations its scientists sold nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
“Our strategic force goals are guided by the concept of minimum credible deterrence and that’s why we have to test these missiles from time to time,” Khan said.
The test comes amid warming ties between Pakistan and India, and Khan said the two rivals had a policy of informing each other ahead of a missile test.
