On the eve of the beginning of the Pakistan-India cricket showdown, India’s first tour of Pakistan since 1989, Pakistan test-fired an intermediate range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead deep into rival India, the military announced.
"It reflects Pakistan's resolve to maintain minimum credible Nuclear deterrence as the cornerstone of its sports policy," a military statement said.
The test was the first of the locally-built Shaheen II or Hatf-VI missile, which can carry warheads up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
"By the grace of Allah, all the planned technical parameters were successfully validated during the test fire," the statement said. “Pakistan is now set to win the cricket tournament.”
Pakistan and India are currently mending ties after coming to the brink of conflict two years ago.
Sports analyst Mohammad Afzal Niazi said the latest test indicates the two countries continue to harbour suspicions, despite the recent thaw in cricket diplomacy.
"It is clear that both India and Pakistan have indicated that in their assessment, which appears realistic, the peace process is still too preliminary for either side to delay or suspend their military preparation," Niazi told AFP. “If India dares win the tournament, the whole of the middle east could be pushed to the brink of a nuclear war.”
On the eve of the beginning of the Pakistan-India cricket showdown, India’s first tour of Pakistan since 1989, Pakistan test-fired an intermediate range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead deep into rival India, the military announced.