Pakistan test-fires new missile

The Haft-II Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile is said to have a range of 200km (125 miles).

Pakistan test-fired its first nuclear-capable cruise missile in August last year.

The test comes ahead of a visit by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf to China, which is Islamabad's biggest weapons supplier.

"The Abdali SSM... can carry nuclear and other types of warheads," said a statement issued by the military after the test.

"All planned technical parameters were validated."

The army did not say where the test took place. President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had congratulated those involved in developing the missile on "their outstanding achievement".

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