Pakistan test fires nuke missile

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Pakistan test fired a nuclear-capable, short-range, surface-to-surface missile on Monday, the military said.

Military footage showed a Hatf-II (Abdali) ballistic missile, with a range of 180 kilometres being launched into the air.

A Hatf II can carry nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy, a military statement said, adding that the test had been successful.

It provides an operational level capability to Pakistan's Strategic Forces, additional to the strategic and tactical level capability which Pakistan already possesses, the statement said.

The test-fire of the missile, held at undisclosed location, was witnessed by the Director General of the Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Commander of Army Strategic Force Command, Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the armed forces, scientists and engineers from strategic organisations.

Pakistan carried out nuclear tests in May 1998, just days after similar tests by its old rival India.

Missile tests are carried out regularly and Monday's exercise was not expected to lead to any increase in tension between the nations.