Pakistan successfully fired an intermediate-range missile on Friday, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

A Strategic Missile Group (SMG) of Pakistan Army's Strategic Force Command (ASFC) conducted a successful training launch of Ghauri (Hatf V) Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), said the APP report.

The Ghauri IRBM has a range of 1300 km. It is the second launch of missiles within a week in Pakistan, which successfully fired a Shaheen-I SMG last weekend.

Addressing the troops in exercise area, President Pervez Musharraf said the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence.

Musharraf said he was extremely pleased to see ASFC emerged as a well-trained and cohesive force in a very short span of time. All needs for the strategic capability as per Pakistan's minimum deterrence requirements would be met by the nation.

"We have taken note of various imaginary scenarios being propounded by those who do not wish Pakistan well. Such elements have never reconciled to a nuclear Pakistan," Musharraf said.

Musharraf pointed out that Pakistan was capable of thwarting all threats to its sovereignty and to the nuclear capability.

The launch was conducted at the conclusion of annual field training exercises of Ghauri Missile Group. ASFC is currently engaged in its winter collective training, in which every operationalised SMG is practiced in tactical and live firing exercises.

The field launch exercise of ASFC was witnessed by Musharraf, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, senior military officers and scientists.

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2008)