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Pakistan on Wednesday condemned arch-rival India's latest missile test, its fourth this year, calling it a sign of extremism deliberately timed to attract minimal world attention.

"India is an extremist country and it is dying to display its armament," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told AFP.

"This test comes at a time when the world is facing a serious crisis and all countries are looking towards Iraq. India has chosen this time deliberately, so it goes almost unnoticed."

India test-fired its short-range cruise missile BrahMos, jointly produced with Russia, at a testing range offshore eastern India, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP in New Delhi.

The firing of the supersonic anti-ship missile with a range of 280 kilometres (174 miles) marked the first time the missile has been tested from a launchpad on a ship.

The cruise missile can be fired from a variety of platforms including mobile launchers, submarines, ships and aircraft.

In January India tested its intermediate range ballistic missile Agni, followed by two tests of its medium range surface-to-air missile, Akash (Sky).

Pakistan, which conducted five tests of nuclear-capable surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles last year, has not tested any missiles so far this year.

Rashid said Pakistan, with whom India has fought three wars since 1947, would not be provoked into tit-for-tat tests.

"These tests can neither terrorise, nor provoke us to do our own tests," he said.

"Although we are being compelled to take such a step, we will not be swayed by emotions. We want to live in a peaceful environment."

He said Pakistan's restraint should not be seen as a sign of weakness.

"I want to make it clear that we fully understand our responsibility to defend Pakistan and we are not ignorant to this duty."

BrahMos is an acronym for India's Brahmaputra river and Moscow. It was recently showcased at India's republic day celebrations on January 26. 

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