Pakistan test fires first cruise missile

Pakistan on Thursday test fired its first cruise missile, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, and did not give advance warning to its archrival India, officials said. The missile, named Babur, has a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles), and was fired early Thursday. The launch site was not disclosed.

Pakistan's military ruler President Pervez Musharraf said the test was a "major milestone" in the country's nuclear programme, the statement said. Pakistan reached an agreement last week with nuclear armed rival India to inform each other about missile tests but military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said the agreement did not cover the cruise missile, called "Babur".

"We don't have to inform neighbouring countries in this case. It is not a ballistic missile and it doesn't fall under the agreement," he said. The Babur is a terrain-hugging missile that can avoid radar detection, the military said..

There was no immediate reaction from India. "The agreement on pre-notification of ballistic missiles, which has been finalized but yet not signed in New Delhi, does not cover pre-notification of cruise missile tests," said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Naeem Khan.