Pakistan has test-fired its first submarine-launched cruise missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and the country's military says it gives them a credible second strike capability.

The missile was fired from an underwater mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy, said Pakistan's military spokesman.
He confirmed the missile, with a range of 280 miles, could carry a nuclear warhead.

Tension between Pakistan and neighbouring India - which have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 - has been rising in recent months with India accusing and threatening Pakistan after a series of insurgent attacks in Kashmir.

Tension between the two countries has been high since a deadly attack on an Indian army base in the disputed region of Kashmir in September, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

They have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated a nuclear weapons capability in 1998.

Both countries can already launch surface-to-surface ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.

Pakistan's new Babur-3 missile would put coastal cities like Mumbai under threat, aswell as Bangalore - heart of India's Silicon Valley - which is about 200 miles inland.

'Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile Babur-2, which was successfully tested earlier in December, last year,' the statement said.

'Pakistan eyes this hallmark development as a step toward reinforcing the policy of credible minimum deterrence.'

The military said the Babur-3 SLCM, in a land-attack mode, was capable of delivering various types of payloads.

It would 'provide Pakistan with a credible second strike capability, augmenting deterrence'.