The missile, called Shaheen-II, has a range of 1,200 miles, exceeding the range of Pakistan's previous longest-range missile that could travel up to 930 miles.

Both missiles are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Pakistani defense experts said Shaheen-II could reach such Indian cities as Calcutta and Madras, which previously were out of Pakistan's reach.

The move reaffirms what President Pervez Musharraf said Feb. 5 when he pardoned nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan who had admitted selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

"We will not abandon or roll back our nuclear and missile programs," Musharraf had declared amid increasing demand, at least in the international media, for Pakistan to give up both.

The U.S. State Department, when contacted by United Press International, refused to comment on the test, saying that it had commented on previous missile tests by Pakistan. "And there's nothing new to say now," said an official.

The department's spokesman, Richard Boucher, was equally dismissive when asked for comments at a regular news briefing. "I don't know. I'd have to check and see whether appropriate notifications were made and whether there was anything special about this test," he said.

Pakistan's arch rival India, which was warned three days before the test, has so far offered no comments and Pakistan's ally and neighbor China said the action should not harm the ongoing peace talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The strongest reaction came from Japan, which called the test "regrettable." In a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad, Japan noted that Pakistan conducted the test "despite efforts by the international community for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles."

Diplomatic observers in Washington, however, told UPI that the test was a political statement of the Musharraf government to deal with the negative fallout of the nuclear scandal inside Pakistan.

Secretary of State Colin Powell also referred to this problem in an interview with National Public Radio earlier Tuesday when he said: "Khan is a very prominent figure in Pakistan. He's considered a national hero because he helped Pakistan develop its nuclear weapons some years ago." He was explaining why Musharraf had to forgive the scientist.

Despite the pardon, many in Pakistan still appear upset with him for "disgracing a national hero," Qazi Hussain Ahmad, leader of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party says. Jamaat is running a nationwide campaign to restore Khan's celebrity status.

Michael Krepon, founding president of a Washington think tank, the Henry L. Stimson Center, said the missile test was an act of "affirmation that Pakistan is going to hold on" to its nuclear arsenal.

Krepon proposed some measures he believes can help reduce the nuclear threat in the South Asian regions. These include: "an agreement only to test missiles from designated test ranges and in a direction away from the other country, to provide normal notification with longer time range of flight tests and prior notification of when missiles are moved from their bases." Currently, India and Pakistan warn each other two to three days before a test.

"Missile flight testing is not going to stop in South Asia, what can be done is to reduce anxiety and to clarify non-threatening postures," said Krepon.

Krepon said that despite the busting of Khan's network of nuclear smugglers, Pakistan will never accept any proposal to diminish its nuclear program "and that was also not the message the international community is sending Pakistan."

"The message is if a country acquires the nuclear option, it has an obligation to be responsible of that capability. Pakistan has not demonstrated that."

"What Pakistan does after the resumption of talks with India will demonstrate it is a responsible country. A responsible state does not attach nuclear risk reduction to Kashmir. It does not call Kashmir a nuclear flash point. It can demonstrate its responsibility by ending jihadi groups that are crossing the Line of Control," Krepon said.

Robert Einhorn, a senior adviser for international security at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Tuesday's missile test was completely independent of the controversy regarding the Khan network. "I don't believe they are related in any way," he said.

He added that by testing the missile, the Pakistanis made it clear that "they want to continue to pursue their deterrence capability. It's an indication that they are moving forward."

Einhorn said the test will not get in the way of efforts by India and Pakistan to improve their relationship and "the 'road map' for bilateral talks will go forward."

He said although the U.S. administration wants to see both India and Pakistan exercise restraint in their nuclear and missile program, "today's test will not have an adverse effect on U.S.-Pakistan relations either."

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