India's Agni missile

1983: Programme begins 1994: Third test flight successful 1999: Longer range Agni II tested 2001: Agni II enters production 2002: Shorter range version tested

The test was carried out on the eve of India's Republic Day, and was seen as sending a firm message to the country's nuclear neighbours, Pakistan and China.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the test was one of several steps India was taking to ensure its own security.

"For the nation's security and protection, we are taking several steps and Agni is one among them," he said.

Advance warning

Nirupama Rao, spokeswoman for the External Affairs Ministry, said the test had been planned before the latest military escalation with Pakistan.

"[The test] was planned in advance. Its timing was determined solely by technical factors. It has no political significance or relationship to any event," she said.

Recent India-Pakistan launches

1998: Pakistan tests Hatf-V 1999: India tests Agni II 1999: Pakistan responds by testing Ghauri II three days later 2001: India tests Agni II while China's Li Peng on state visit

But BBC Delhi correspondent Satish Jacob said the test would cut no ice with Pakistan, which will see it as India flexing its military muscle.

India said it had given advance warning of the test to Pakistan, as well as to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Nirupama Rao said the missile tested had a range of less than 700 kilometres (440 miles).

Analysts said the missile tested was possibly a shorter-range version of India's Agni II, which is now in production and has a range of more than 2,000 kilometres.

That missile was conceived as a deterrent against China, while a shorter-range version would be more effective against Pakistan.

Deterrent

The test took place over the Bay of Bengal, the missile having been launched from Wheeler's Island off the coast of Orissa state, according to the Press Trust of India.

Correspondents say the longer-range version of the Agni II is seen as a key element of India's plan to build a credible minimum nuclear deterrent to defend itself against its nuclear-armed neighbours.

The last test of an Agni II missile was almost exactly a year ago, during a high-profile state visit to India of Li Peng, the leader of China's parliament.

That test brought a swift condemnation from Pakistan, and caused concern in Beijing.