Pak test-fires Ghauri-II

ISLAMABAD, April 14 (PTI) — Two days after India test-fired its advanced range Agni-II ballistic missile, Pakistan, ignoring western appeals for restraint, today responded by test-firing Ghauri-II missile having a maximum range of 1500 km and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

An official statement said here that the advanced HATF-V (Ghauri-II) missile test-fired from Tilla Jogian, 40 km off Punjab town of Jhelum, south of Islamabad, at 10.40 a.m. local time (11.10 a.m. IST), hit the intended target near the coastal town of Jiwani in Baluchistan after eight minutes. This was the second test of the Ghauri. Media reports quoting official sources had earlier said that Pakistan would be test-firing a more advanced version of Ghauri missile with a range of more than 2000 km to give a matching response to India’s Agni-II stating that Pakistan was against any nuclear or missile race in South Asia, the statement added that the test demonstrated Pakistan’s determination to defend itself, strengthen national security, and consolidate the strategic balance which was restored on May 28, 1998 after nuclear blasts by Pakistan.

The Pakistani-made Ghauri-II, capable of carrying all kinds of warheads, is being launched, at Jhelum on Wednesday. Pakistan on Wednesday successfully conducted a flight of its Ghauri missile in response of Indian's Agni II. AP/PTI

Pakistan had given prior notification of this test to India in accordance with the MoU signed at Lahore in February. "We have also informed all immediate neighbours," the statement said.

The successful test-fire of the missile showed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself and strengthen its security, it said.

The Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif was in the port town of Gawadar, 60 km east of Jiwani, when the test-fire was carried out.

Ghauri-II, an upgraded version of Ghauri-I, is a surface-to-surface, solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has the capability to cover the whole territory of India, defence experts said.

The test-firing of Ghauri-II comes amidst renewed call by the USA not to conduct any missile tests.

A US State Department spokesman, Mr James Foley said yesterday that such a test will not be helpful to American efforts to promote stability on the subcontinent and to promote a non-proliferation agenda.

The missile was claimed to have been developed by a team of scientists of Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) headed by prominent nuclear scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

An official statement today announced the successful test-firing of Ghauri missile, claiming that the test was part of "Pakistan’s indigenous missile programme", but the western media had reported earlier that Islamabad had been receiving missile technology from China and North Korea and that Ghauri missile is simply the renamed version of North Korean Nodong missile.

US and western media, quoting US intelligence sources had been reporting in recent times that Pakistan had an active tie-up with Beijing and Pyongyang for missile and nuclear technology and this was proved last year when immediately after the first test of Ghauri missile Washington slapped a two-year ban on both Pakistan and North Korea under the MTCR.

Pakistan may conduct another test of its Gauri-II missile to test its full range of 2,300 km, official news agency APP reported.

The agency said the test would probably be conducted with a target in the sea.

Meanwhile, euphoric Pakistan today broke into celebrations over a "strong reply to India’s Agni-II" by successful test-firing of Ghauri missile.

Raising "Pakistan zindabad" slogans, enthusiastic Pakistanis were seen hugging each other in market places and streets while distributing sweets.