Pakistan on Friday testfired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, with a maximum range of 2,750 km, the military said.
   The test flight of Shaheen-III was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system, an army statement said.
   Pakistan has different type of missiles and some can also carry nuclear warheads.
   "The successful flight test with its impact point in the Arabian Sea, validating all the desired parameters," the statement from the army's Inter-Services Public Relations said.
   The president and prime minister of Pakistan congratulated the scientists and engineers on successful conduct of the missile test.
   Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, Director General Strategic Plans Division, which deals with Pakistan's missile system, congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving a significant milestone in complementing the deterrence capability.
   "Pakistan desires peaceful co-existence in the region for which nuclear deterrence would further strengthen strategic stability in South Asia," he said.
   He expressed his full confidence over the Strategic Command and Control System and the Strategic Forces' operational preparedness to defend against any aggressive design.