Pakistan has test-fired an intermediate range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead deep into rival India, the military announced. The test, falling on the eve of India's first cricket tour to Pakistan in 14 years and in the midst of a peace process with its nuclear neighbour, proved Pakistan's intention to maintain a nuclear deterrent, the military said. "It reflects Pakistan's resolve to maintain minimum credible deterrence as the cornerstone of its security policy," a military statement said. The test was the first of the locally-built Shaheen II or Hatf-VI missile, which can carry warheads up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). "By the grace of Allah, all the planned technical parameters were successfully validated during the test fire," the statement said. Pakistan and India are currently mending ties after coming to the brink of conflict two years ago. The peace moves, combined with international condemnation of nuclear proliferation by Pakistan's nuclear program founder Abdul Qadeer Khan, triggered fears among some Pakistanis that the government would be pressed to wind down its nuclear program. President Pervez Musharraf, previewing the test during a press conference last month, had "categorically dimissed apprehensions of a roll back," the military stressed in its statement. President Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali congratulated personnel involved in the "successful development and launching" of the Shaheen-II missile system, the statement said. Military analysts believe the latest Pakistani test was to prove that its missiles can cover almost all of India's territory. "Pakistan's nuclear programme and missile capablity, both are India-specific," former army chief general Aslam Beg told AFP. "A combination of missiles with short and mid-range indicates that Pakistan can now cover almost all territories in India as well as the Indian Ocean. That gives a meaningful capability to Pakistan." The rival neighbvours have fought three wars, two of them over the festering Kashmir dispute since their independence from Britain in 1947. General Beg did not believe Tuesday's test would have adverse effect on the newly initiated peace process between India and Pakistan. "I don't think it is going to have any impact on the mood or modalities of the peace process," he said. "It is understood (in India) that the test was a routine experiment to ensure effectiveness and capability of the system." **PHOTO CAPTION*** A Pakistani missile is launched near Karachi, 09 March 2004. Pakistan test-fired a long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead deep into rival India. (AFP/File)