Posted on 02/06/2004 9:48:58 AM PST by knighthawk
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has developed 2,000 km long range missile Shaheen-II which would be test fired within a month, President Pervez Musharraf said.
He ruled out any roll back of nuclear and missile programme in the wake of proliferation of nuclear technology by the country's top scientists.
In an apparent attempt to demonstrate that its nuclear and missile programme was very much intact, Musharraf told a meeting of editors and columnists on Thursday in Rawalpindi that the country's long range missile Shaheen-II would be test fired within a month to consolidate country's missile programme.
"The missile is ready for tests", he said while refuting allegations that Pakistan 's nuclear and missile programme was in jeopardy as a result of disclosures of proliferation of nuclear technology by its scientists.
Pakistan has so far test fired short and medium range missiles Shaheen-1, Hatf-1, Gahaznavi, Hatf-3, a short range missile which could carry nuclear or conventional war head upto around 290 kms. All the missiles could hit targets in India.
Islamabad also claims to have long range missiles, Ghauri-1 having a range of 1,500 kms and Ghauri-II with 2,300 kms range. The long range missiles have not been demonstratively tested so far. Pakistan tested its missiles last in October, 2003 by firing Htaf and Ghaznavi missiles.
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