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Pakistan fires new cruise missile
Pakistan says it has fired its first cruise missile, describing the launch as a "milestone" in its history. The Babur missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads and has a range of 500km (310 miles), a military spokesman said. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the launch was a birthday gift to President Pervez Musharraf. Analysts say the launch is likely to cause concern to regional countries, particularly nuclear rival India.
The launch comes days after Pakistan and India agreed to give each other advance notice of future nuclear ballistic missile tests. India was not informed about Thursday's test because the agreement did not cover guided missiles, a Pakistan military spokesman said.
There was no immediate reaction to the test from Delhi. | "Mukkarjee! Hurry up with the plans for the ABM system!" |
Mr Ahmed said the "milestone" launch had been a success, adding: "The nation is proud of its team of scientists who have raised the country's prestige in the comity of nations." He said it was a gift from scientists to President Pervez Musharraf, 62 on Thursday. | Damm, I didn't get him anything. |
| Neither did Fazl, fortunately. |
Cruise missiles are usually low-flying guided missiles. "The technology enables the missile to avoid radar detection and penetrate undetected through any hostile defensive system," the Pakistan military said in a statement. Pakistan has its own range of intermediate and short-range ballistic missiles which are test-fired for North Korea quite regularly. Army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said Pakistan had now joined the few countries "that can design and make cruise missiles".
The BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says the test is likely to ring alarm bells in many countries. Pakistan has been under close scrutiny by the international community since its leading nuclear expert, AQ Khan, was found to have leaked nuclear secrets two years ago. India and Pakistan routinely test-fire their missiles. In March, Pakistan successfully tested a long-range nuclear-capable missile - the Shaheen II, with a range of 2,000km (1,250 miles). Both countries have limited command-and-control structures, and neither has developed the technology to recall a nuclear-tipped missile fired in error.
Posted by: Steve 2005-08-11 |
