"We have successfully test fired the Shaheen 1," military spokesman Major general Shaukat Sultan told AFP.

The missile can carry any type of warhead, including nuclear warheads, up to 700 kilometers (434 miles), meaning it can land in rival nuclear power India.

The missile was launched at 8:13 am (0313 GMT) from a secret location, Sultan said.

Pakistan notified neighbouring countries, including India, ahead of the test in what the military called "a spirit of confidence building."

The Shaheen launch comes just five days after Pakistan test-fired its short-range Ghaznavi missile.

"The test is part of the ongoing series of tests of Pakistan's indigenous missile systems," a military statement said.

"All technical parameters required to be tested were successfully validated."

More tests will be conducted in the near future "if required," Sultan said.

The tests are the first by Pakistan since peace moves began with rival India six months ago.

The military on Friday said the tests were not "tit for tat" with India and officials denied they were linked to an apparent slowdown in the reconciliation process with New Delhi.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the Shaheen-1 "on their oustanding success," the military statement said.

SPACE.WIRE