Pakistan test fires cruise missile Babur

Islamabad, Mar 22: Pakistan today successfully test fired the nuclear-capable cruise missile Babur, Hatf-VII, which can hit targets as far away as 700 km.

''The flight data collected validated the design parameters set for test-flight of the indigenously developed missile, which was first tested in August 2005,'' a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Babur, which was first tested for 550 km, is a terrain hugging, radar avoiding cruise missile. '' It is a highly maneuverable missile with pin point accuracy and is capable of carrying a variety of warheads including nuclear,'' the statement said.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan-ulHaq witnessed the test, which was ''part of Pakistan's ongoing efforts to consolidate its strategic capability and strengthen national security''.

This is Pakistan's second test during this month. On March 3, Pakistan had test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface Hatf-II (Abdali) ballistic missile which can carry all types of warheads up to 200 km.

Pakistan formally kicked off its medium-range missile programme in April 1998, with the first successful test flight of the Ghauri I missile followed by similar tests in the next years involving nuclear capable Ghauri, Shaheen, Ghaznavi and Abdali missile systems.

HATF-3 (Ghaznavi), HATF-5 (Ghauri), HATF-4 (Shaheen-1) have already been handed over to Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command.

Pakistan had last month test-fired the nuclear-capable long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf VI (Shaheen II), which has a range of 2,000 km.

UNI