Pakistan on Monday test-fired the Shaheen-II long-range ballistic missile for the second time in three days. The missile can carry nuclear and conventional warheads and hit targets deep inside India.

The Shaheen-II or Hatf-VI surface-to-surface nuclear capable missile, which has a range of 2,000 km, was launched for the first time by the army's Strategic Forces Command to mark the culmination of a field training exercise.

All previous launches of the Shaheen-II were conducted by defence scientists and engineers. Pakistan's prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had witnessed the last test of the Shaheen-II on Saturday.

Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, who witnessed the launch along with senior military officials and personnel from strategic organisations, said the country's nuclear capability "formed the bedrock of Pakistan's security policy and will continue to be enhanced".