``We believe the test took place. We know that Pakistan has an active program to develop missiles, and they do test them from time to time,'' Pentagon spokesman and Assistant Secretary for Defense Kenneth Bacon said yesterday, virtually rubbishing the scepticism some sections in India have been voicing about Pakistan's capability.

However, compared to the relatively cautious kerfuffle in the state department over the tests, Bacon held out the threat of US sanctions against Islamabad for transgressing the MTCR saying Washington was in an ``advanced state of review'' of this case but had not reached a decision yet.

``As you know, we have imposed sanctions against Pakistan in the pastunder the Missile Technology Control Regime. We're continuing to review this particular case,'' he revealed.

He however steered clear of commenting specifically on Indian allegations that China may have helped Pakistan in making the missile, merely saying the US has been ``working very hard'' over the years in discussions with China and North Korea and other countries to try to get them to stop promoting the proliferation of missile technology in Asia and ``we have achieved some success'' with China. ``One of the points we're making is that missile technology can come back to haunt any state that allows proliferation, and that in this world, no state can be immune from the threat of increasing missile technology,'' he added.

Bacon also repeated the general US concern about arms race in the region saying it was not in the interest of stability and would not advance the security of the two countries.

``It could well weaken the security of these two countries. We have appealed to them to stop an armsrace,'' he said. Meanwhile, there has been a surge of nationalism in Pakistan over what is seen as a successful counter to India's own missile program. Key Pakistani opinion makers are ecstatic over not only Islamabad's ``befitting reply to India's missile program'' but also the government's ``courageous independent decision in testing the missile against imperialistic pressures.''

One former Pakistani General, Hamid Gul, was quoted as saying Islamabad had to go ahead with Ghauri particularly in view of ``the belligerent posture'' adopted by the BJP government.

Pakistan shall not only be protecting its own national interests but also those of the regional and gulf countries who could become a target of ``India's on-going military might'', Gul said in Karachi's Dawn newspaper.

The Pakistani milestone has also been hailed editorially by the country's newspapers. ``When India decided to deploy Prithvi missiles at Jullandhar, it was a foregone conclusion that in order to fend for itself, Pakistan will haveto look for counter-measures. Ghauri has come, therefore, as a natural response to India's ongoing missile,'' The Nation said, in an editorial on Wednesday.

While Pakistan has genuine reasons based on its past experience to fear the expansion of India's military might, the attitude of the major powers, particularly the US, to the Indian build-up has provided little comfort to Pakistan.

Not much concern was shown by the US when the BJP government declared that it would induct nuclear weapons in its military arsenal. The Indian obduracy, combined with international complacency, has created an understandable concern in Pakistan for its own defence.

Under these conditions, it would be unnatural to expect that Pakistan would abandon whatever viable means of national defence its scientists and engineers were capable of providing it, the paper said.