Pakistan today “successfully” test-fired its 2,000-km long-range nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile that could target major cities in India.The Hatf VI (Shaheen II) was launched from an undisclosed location and Pakistan military said the test was part of a “continuous process of validation and technical improvement which Pakistan follows to consolidate and verify its various land based strategic missile systems”. It can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy, the military said in a statement.The test was carried two days after India and Pakistan signed an agreement in New Delhi to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear war between them. Hatf VI is Pakistan’s longest range ballistic missile system with a range of 2000 km. It is a two-stage solid fuel missile which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy, the Defence statement said. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have congratulated the technical team on its “outstanding success”, the statement said.“Today’s test was witnessed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan Ul-Haq, who congratulated the scientists, engineers and the staff of Pakistan’s Strategic Organisations on achieving an important milestone in Pakistan’s quest for sustaining strategic balance in South Asia,” it added.Speaking after the successful test, General Haq made it clear that Pakistan’s strategy of credible minimum deterrence was fully in place and was a guarantee of peace in the region. “The defence need of the country would always remain a government priority and the strategic programme particularly, which enjoyed complete national consensus, would continue to be consolidated and strengthened in line with the needs of national security,” he said.
