"It is escalating the arms race. If they are doing it (missile testing), well India will have to take note of it," Patil said on a visit to the southern city of Bangalore, as quoted by the Press Trust of India news agency.

The firing Saturday of the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) range Hatf V surface-to-surface missile, witnessed by Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali at an undisclosed location, was Pakistan's first such test since March.

India had said it was informed in advance of the test.

Pakistan and India's new left-leaning government have pledged to continue a drive to normalise relations initiated under the former Hindu nationalist administration in New Delhi.

WAR.WIRE