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Pakistan successfully tests cruise missile

Pakistan said it successfully test-fired a cruise missile yesterday capable of delivering nuclear warheads deep into India.

The test of the Babur or Hatf VII missile was a success that would "consolidate Pakistan's strategic capability and strengthen national security," a military statement said.

The military said it has extended the range of the missile, first tested in 2005, to 700km -- enough to reach New Delhi.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the project, the statement said.

"The missile test is part of a continuous process of validating the design parameters set for this weapon system," the statement said.

"The Babur, which has near stealth capabilities, is a low flying, terrain-hugging missile with high maneuverability, pinpoint accuracy and radar avoidance features," the statement said.

It did not identify the site of the test.

Pakistan routinely tests various nuclear-capable missiles in its arsenal, believed to be designed mainly to match India's.

The two countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, but have been holding peace talks since 2004.

The talks aim to settle their core dispute over Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between them, though progress has been slow and there has been no breakthrough.

Yesterday's test was the second of the Babur model this year.

In February, Pakistan test-fired a new version of its long-range nuclear-capable missile, Hatf VI or Shaheen II, which has a range of 2,000km.
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