"This is simply a reconfirmation that missiles are now a reality in South Asia," foreign ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said in a statement.

He called for measures for nuclear, missile and conventional arms restraint.

"Such measures are necessary for promoting peace and security between two nuclear neighbours," Khan said.

New Delhi had informed Islamabad in advance of the test, he added.

"This came as a pleasant surprise since only about a month ago when India conducted a similar test it id not notify Pakistan."

India's defence ministry announced that it had successfully tested a medium-range surface-to-surface Prithvia missile in eastern Orissa state at 11:20 am (0550 GMT).

SPACE.WIRE