NEW DELHI, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Pakistan and India on Friday tested missiles and each country criticized the other though both had advance warnings of the tests.
Pakistan said its Hatf-IV missile, with a range of 466 miles, can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets in several parts of India. India had been notified of the test in accordance with a treaty between the two countries.
Foreign Office Spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said the test was to check the technical aspects of the missile, also known as the Shaheen, and denied it had anything to "do with the Indo-Pak situation."
India, however, called the test "further act of irresponsibility" on Pakistan's part.
Eleven hours later, India tested its own surface-to-air missile that can engage four to six targets. The Akash, or Sky, is capable of carrying a payload of 121 pounds up to 16 miles, and was fired from a mobile launcher in eastern India.
Pakistan criticized the tests.
"India is trying to turn this into an arms race," Information Minister Nisar Memon said.
Retaliatory nuclear tests by the two countries in May 1998 drew U.S. sanctions, which were lifted after the two nations supported Washington's war against terrorism in Afghanistan.
