The State Department said that while the test did not for the moment appear to have significantly increased tensions between India and Pakistan, the two sides should refrain from provocative actions, particularly the full deployment of such missiles.

"Initial public reactions are such that it doesn't seem to have heightened tensions in the region, but we have continued to urge both Pakistan and India to take steps to restrain their nuclear weapons and their missile programs, including no operational deployment of nuclear-armed ballistic missiles," spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"We've also encouraged them to begin a dialogue on confidence-building measures that could reduce the likelihood that such weapons would ever be used," he told reporters.

"Obviously, we think that dialogue could be part of broader engagement between the two countries to reduce tensions," Boucher said.

He spoke after the Pakistani military announced earlier Friday that it had test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface Hatf III Ghaznavi ballistic missile, the first since peace overtures began with India six months ago.

The test was Pakistan's second this year but the first since the peace process, initiated in April, began to flounder in recent weeks, with both sides accusing each other of hampering efforts to mend ties.

India has conducted several missile tests this year, but Pakistan has refrained from immediately launching its own tests in response.

Last year, the rival neighbours engaged in a series of tit-for-tat tests as a million of their troops faced off across their border on the brink of war.

The United States and others have been concerned over missile tests by the neighbours, who have fought three wars since the subcontinent was divided on independence from Britain in 1947.

A feared fourth war last year was averted by intense US-led international efforts that brought about a reciprocal pullback of troops from their common border after a tense 10-month standoff.

Friday's test came as Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who played a key role in mediating that crisis, headed for Islamabad to discuss the situation along with Pakistan's cooperation in the US-led war on terrorism.

Armitage will meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to speak about "sustained efforts to assure security along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as regional stability issues," Boucher said.

SPACE.WIRE