NEW DELHI, July 9 (UPI) -- India Sunday test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable missile for the first time, officials said, but it was unclear whether the test was successful.
At least one report said the missile failed in flight, The New York Times reported.
The launch occurred as world leaders searched for a way to deal with recent missile tests by North Korea, and the U.S. Congress takes up a civilian nuclear pact that the Bush administration negotiated with India, the newspaper said.
The agreement does not cover missile tests or other military activity, but its critics say the administration failed to get any commitment from India to stop producing new nuclear weapons fuel, or to restrict production of new weapons, the Times reported.
The Agni 3 missile reportedly has a range of more than 1,800 miles. The test appeared intended to show that India's strategic arsenal can reach beyond Pakistan -- perhaps into China -- the newspaper said.
India last month test-fired a surface-to-air, anti-ballistic missile -- the Akash missile -- which weighs 1,540 pounds, has a range of 17 miles and can carry a 154-pound warhead.
