Senior officials indicated that the test of the new version of the Ghauri V missile -- a day after the fifth anniversary of the country's first nuclear test -- was part of routine testing to improve its missiles and would not have a negative impact on the peace process with India.

The new Ghauri V has a maximum range of 1,500 km and can strike most major population centers in northern India.

The test came days after Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali visited Pakistan's nuclear weapons facility, where he was told that scientists have completed work to test-fire Pakistan's longest-range missile, the Ghauri III, which will have a range of 3,500 km.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 5, 2004
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