Pakistan has carried out a test of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile as part
of efforts to boost its defences.
A successful test of a surface-to-surface solid-fuel missile Hatf-III Ghaznavi with a range of 290 km took place, the country's military said in a statement.
"The test was a part of a series of tests planned to be conducted in order to verify certain parameters and to further refine subsystems of the missile," it said.
"Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme will maintain the pace of development and tests will continue to be conducted as per technical needs," it added.
The indigenously produced missile was delivered to the army in February this year and has been previously tested in 2002 and 2003. It was the third test of the missile.
Officials say missile tests over the last four years and the delivery of systems to the military demonstrate the government's resolve to strengthen Pakistan 's nuclear
deterrent.
The military said Pakistan had notified the neighbouring countries about the test, a practice also observed by arch-rival India, which regularly carries out tests of
nuclear-capable missiles.
In October Pakistan test-fired the nuclear-capable ballistic missile Hatf V, a type of Ghauri missile with a range of 1,500 km that is capable of hitting most Indian
cities and which can carry a payload of 900 kg (1,985 lbs).