Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile

The test-firing of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that could reach targets in India was a success Thursday, Pakistani military officials said. A top Pakistani military official said the country had developed a "strong nuclear deterrence capability" that could put a stop to outside aggression, the Press Trust of India reported. A statement by the military said the "training launch" of the short-range Hatf III ballistic missile at an undisclosed location was successful. The statement said the missile could carry nuclear and conventional warheads up to 180 miles. The training exercise was meant to test "the operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group," the statement said. "The launch was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercise of the Army Strategic Force Command," the statement said.