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Pakistan has successfully test-fired an indigenously developed short-range surface-to-surface multi-tube missile on Tuesday. The Hatf IX (NASR) has a range of 60 kilometres and can carry nuclear warheads with high accuracy and possesses shoot and scoot attributes, reports The Dawn. The test was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (retd), along with senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists and engineers working for strategic organisations. General Kidwai said the test was a major development, which would consolidate Pakistan 's deterrence capability. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the scientists over the success of the missile test. Pakistan 's arsenal includes short, medium and long-range missiles. The test comes after India successfully conducted two tests of its medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash from Odisha on Monday. Akash has a launch weight of 720 kg and carries a 55 kg payload. It can climb up to an altitude of 18 km, can operate autonomously, and engage and neutralise different aerial targets simultaneously. India and Pakistan , which have fought three wars since independence in 1947, have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998.

Pakistan test-fires nuclear capable short-range missile following India