The Hatf-II Abdali had a range of 200 km, it said in a statement. "The test was aimed at validation of the desired technical parameters which has been successfully achieved."

Pakistan and arch-rival India routinely carry out missile tests, and have agreed to inform each other of tests in advance.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India met in New Delhi in February and signed an accord to reduce the risk of accidents linked to their nuclear arsenals.

Last week Pakistan test-fired a long-range nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface Hatf VI missile, which can hit targets within 2,000 km.

Pakistan's Hatf series of missiles is named after an ancient sword mentioned in Islamic historical books.

The Hatf-II was last reported to have been tested in February 2006.

Diplomats have discerned no pattern in the timing of missile tests in the past.

Pakistan carried out tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests in 1998, days after India had conducted similar tests.