Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable Abdali missile

Islamabad, Mar 31: Pakistan today successfully test-fired nuclear-capable Abdali, Hatf-II, ballistic missile.

''The indigenously developed short-range surface-to-surface missile can hit its target as far away as 200 kilometers,'' an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said after the test-fire.

It said the test was aimed at validation of the desired technical parameters.

Pakistani scientists have carried out Abdali's test for the second time during the current month. The same missile was earlier test-fired on March 3.

On March 22, Pakistan test-fired the nuclear capable ground launched cruise missile 'Babur' with an enhanced range of 700 kilometers, almost a month after testing the long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile 'Shaheen II', 'Hatf VI', which has a range of 2,000 kilometers.

Pakistan launched its medium-range missile programme in April 1998, with the first successful test flight of 'Ghauri I' missile followed by similar tests the next year involving the 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.

UNI