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Pakistan tests home-made nuclear-capable weapon

Pakistan successfully test-fired an indigenously developed short-range nuclear-capable missile yesterday, the military said, ahead of peace talks with archrival neighboring India.

The launch of the surface-to-surface Abdali ballistic missile, which has a range of 200km, was conducted from an unspecified location in Pakistan, the military said in a statement issued from Rawalpindi, a garrison city near the capital, Islamabad.

All the required technical parameters have been met, it said.

Pakistan test-fired a new version of its long-range nuclear-capable missile just 10 days ago, and two days before that it signed an agreement with India to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear war between them.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, and have fought three wars since independence from Britain 1947, including two over Kashmir in the Himalayas.

The South Asian nuclear-armed rivals often carry out missile tests.

India became a declared atomic power in 1974. Pakistan first carried out underground nuclear tests in 1998 in response to the tests done by New Delhi, rejecting pleas from the world leaders at the time.

Pakistan's missiles have the ability to hit targets inside India.

The Abdali missile is named after Ahmad Shah Abdali, an 18th century Afghan king who attacked India and is accused of looting wealth.

However, relations between Pakistan and India have improved since they began a peace process in 2004 to resolve all their issues, including Kashmir.

The two countries will hold a fourth round in Islamabad on March 13 to March 14.
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