India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an undersea platform on Tuesday, completing its goal of having air, land and sea ballistic systems.

"This is going to start a new arms race in the region," the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted naval chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir as telling a group of journalists at a ship-building facility inauguration in Karachi.

"We are aware of these developments, and these developments are taking place with a view to put nuclear weapons at sea and it is a very, very serious issue," the state news agency quoted him as saying.

Pakistan carried out nuclear weapons tests in May 1998, following similar tests by India, with which it has fought three wars.

The neighbours were on the brink of a nuclear conflict in 2002 over tensions about disputed Kashmir, but began a slow-moving peace dialogue in 2004.

Pakistan has test-fired three land-based nuclear-capable missiles this year.

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