Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday as tensions with India spiked over last week’s deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 450 kilometres, the Pakistani military said.

The launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the “operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters,” including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features,it said.

It came the same day that India announced it has banned the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan.

India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade in a notification said the ban will take effect immediately.

"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy," it said.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the scientists, engineers and those behind the successful missile test.

The country’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said days before Pakistan had “credible intelligence” that India was planning to attack it within days. Tarar vowed in a statement to respond “very strongly” if Pakistan comes under attack by its nuclear rival.

Pakistan asked Gulf allies on Friday to help ease tensions with India after the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly Hindus, were killed. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad strongly rejects. (AP/Reuters)