ISLAMABAD - The successful test came a a week after the Bush administration approved sale of F-16 jet fighters, after 15 years of punishment for testing a nuclear bomb.
Pakistan today successfully carried-out test of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf II/Abdali, at an unspecified location, military said in a statement. It said the missile has a range of 180 kilometers (112 miles) and can carry all types of war heads. The statement said all desired technical parameters were validated. About a week earlier Pakistan tested its longest-range Shaheen II missile, having a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles). Neighbouring countries had been informed prior to carrying out the test, said the statement.
The disputed Kashmir issue has triggered nuclear race between the two neighboring countries, Pakistan and India, who routinely test-fire their missiles. A key war-on-terror ally of the United States, Pakistan had to face a host of American sanctions before and after it carried out its nuclear tests in May, 1998. These sanctions were eventually lifted in return for Pakistan's critical intelligence and logistic support to the US-led military coalition in the war against terrorism. To reward its war ally, the Bush administration last week approved long-awaited sale of latest F-16 jest fighters. However, India has expressed great disappointment over the decision, which it says would exacerbate India's security concerns.