Pakistan on Thursday conducted a test launch of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with the capability of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads up to 290 kilometres, the military said.
The missile named Gaznavi was launched to "ensure operational readiness of the army strategic forces and re-validating technical parameters of the weapon system," a statement said.
Pakistan and rival India conducted nuclear explosions days apart from each other in May 1998.
Both South Asian neighbours have since been developing the fastest growing stockpiles of nuclear warheads and a missile-based delivery system.
The arms race in one of the most impoverished regions in the world often draws criticism with experts saying "downtrodden poor people pay the price for obsession for nuclear weapons."
