By ASHOK SHARMA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 9, 2007; 3:44 PM

NEW DELHI -- India on Wednesday test-fired a medium-range
nuclear-capable missile meant for military use, a defense ministry
official said.

The surface-to-surface "Prithvi" or "Earth" missile, with a range of 95
miles, was fired from the test range in Chandipur in the eastern state
of Orissa as a user trial by the army, the official said on condition of
anonymity because of ministry rules.

The area is 45 miles north of Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state.

India and longtime rival Pakistan routinely test-fire missiles. But they
usually notify each other ahead of missile launches in keeping with an
agreement between the two nations.

The Indian army already has inducted the Prithvi missile which can carry
both conventional and nuclear warheads, the official said.

Last month, India successfully test fired Agni 3, a new missile capable
of carrying nuclear warheads across much of Asia and the Middle East.

India's current crop of missiles are mostly intended for confronting
neighboring archrival Pakistan. The Agni 3, in contrast, is India's
longest-range missile, designed to reach 1,900 miles _ putting China's
major cities well into range, as well as targets deep in the Middle East.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from
Britain in 1947. They have been holding peace talks since 1994 aimed at
resolving their differences, including their dispute over the Himalayan
region of Kashmir.

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