ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan successfully test-fired Hatf-IV (Shaheen-I), a nuclear-capable medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, it was officially announced here on Wednesday.

The missile had already been tested and was capable of hitting targets within a radius of 700 kilometres, the announcement said. It could also carry other types of warheads.

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in their separate messages hailed scientists and engineers on their achievement. A statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said that Hatf-IV (Shaheen-I) and other missile systems like Hatf-III (Ghaznavi) and Hatf-V (Ghauri) had been handed over to the Army's Strategic Force Command.

He said the missile was fired again to test additional technical parameters. The ISPR spokesman said neighbouring countries had been given prior notification in accordance with the standard practice.

The recently-conducted successful missile tests were indicative of the government's resolve to consolidate Pakistan's nuclear deterrence capability, he said. Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said that the missile's test would not affect Pakistan-India relations.

The test-firing of Hatf-IV missile comes at a time when both countries are engaged in a peace dialogue and are taking confidence-building measures (CBMs) to resolve conflicts on various issues.

Mr Khan said Pakistan and India were also holding talks on nuclear and conventional CBMs and expressed the hope they would succeed. He said Pakistan was not indulging in an arms race as a race for developing nuclear and conventional weapons in South Asia would not help promote peace and progress in the region.

The Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistan was committed to strengthen the country's nuclear capability and similar tests would also be conducted in future. He said Pakistan would maintain a minimum nuclear deterrence capability in the region.