Pakistan flexes Hatf-IV muscle

It was to check the technical aspects of the missile, also known as Shaheen, foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said. ‘‘It is in line with testing the technical aspects of the indigenously produced missile. It has nothing to do with the Indo-Pak situation, ’’ he said.

The missile was reported to have been test-fired from a test range at Somyani coast.

India was reportedly informed on Thursday evening when the Indian charge de affairs Sudhir Vyas was called to the foreign office here for a meeting.

Pakistan has conducted a series of tests of its long and medium range missiles in May this year. The tests included its medium range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Hatf-V and Hatf-II called ‘‘Abdali’’ which has a range of 180 km, were tested in quick succession in three days.

Meanwhile, saying that a military government in Pakistan has exacerbated tensions with India, a US-based analysis and advocacy group, the International Crisis Management Group (ICMG), has warned that President Pervez Musharraf’s plans to perpetuate military power could lead it to instability.

In its report on Thursday, ICMG asked United States and EU to ensure that Musharraf keeps his promise to restore democracy.