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25 January 2002 |
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http://203.199.93.7/Articleshow.asp?art_id=1554707047 |
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PTI BALASORE: India on Friday tested a variant of Agni missile with a range of 700 km from a launch pad at Chandipur, 80 km from here. The missile, which is part of the country's indigenous Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), was launched at about 8.50 am from launch complex No. 4 on the Wheelers Island off the Orissa coast. The external affairs ministry spokesperson, Nirupama Rao, confirmed in Delhi that the missile was "short range" with a capability of less than 700 km. She clarified it was not the intermediate or the longer range versions of the Agni missiles. She said the timing of the launch was solely guided by technical considerations and there was no political significance or relationship with any event. "We do not view missile tests as sending a political message," she said. The spokesperson said the heads of mission of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- US, Russia, UK, China and France and Germany, Japan and the current EU president, Spain, were informed about the test. The deputy high commissioner of Pakistan was also informed about the test. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee congratulated the defence scientists on the successful launch which was witnessed among others by Defence Minister George Fernandes. The spokesperson said Friday's Agni test was undertaken in a "non-provocative manner" across the international waters in accordance with established practices. Internal aviators and mariners were also informed about the test. She said the countries which were informed about the test were told that the missile launch was planned in advance and was not "abrupt or sudden". It was a "well thought out step" in consonance with the country's security and defence posture including the doctrine of 'no first use'. "The test was undertaken in a predictable and transparent manner," she said, adding that the country's missile programme was not "country specific". The spokesperson said the test was also part of efforts to evaluate the indigenous capability to guarantee a credible minimum nuclear deterrent. "We are perfectly convinced about the legitimacy of the missile tests," she said. India is the seventh country in the world to have an indigenous ballistic missile capability. This is the sixth time that an Agni missile was launched from the interim test range (ITR) at Chandipur since the maiden test on May 22, 1989. The previous missiles were both of medium and long range. The previous three missile launches were the longer range version of Agni. The last test under the Agni programme was on January 17, 2001. Science adviser to the Defence Ministry Dr V K Aatre, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi and the Agni programme director, R N Agarwal, were also present during Friday's launch. |
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25 January 2002 |
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Pakistan has criticised India's decision to test-launch a nuclear-capable ballistic missile at a time of heightened tension between the two nuclear powers. A Pakistani Foreign Office statement called the test, which took place on Friday morning, "prejudicial to the pursuit of stability in our region, especially during the current situation". Relations have been fraught since last month's suicide bombing on the Indian parliament, which India blamed on Pakistan-backed militants. Both countries have since mobilised hundreds of thousands of troops. No political significance or relationship to any event - Nirupama Rao Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the test was one of several steps India was taking to ensure its own security. "For the nation's security and protection, we are taking several steps and Agni is one among them," he said. Nirupama Rao, spokeswoman for the External Affairs Ministry, said the test had been planned before the latest military escalation with Pakistan. "[The test] was planned in advance. Its timing was determined solely by technical factors. It has no political significance or relationship to any event," she said. But BBC Delhi correspondent Satish Jacob said the test would cut no ice with Pakistan, which will see it is India flexing its military muscle. Shorter range Nirupama Rao said the missile tested had a range of less than 700 kilometres (440 miles). Agni missiles - the word means fire in Hindi - have been tested to fly more than 2,000 kilometres. The test took place over the Bay of Bengal, the missile having been launched from Wheeler's Island off the coast of Orissa state, according to the Press Trust of India. Correspondents say the longer-range version is seen as a key element of India's plan to build a credible minimum nuclear deterrent to defend itself against its nuclear-armed neighbours. The last test of the Agni missile was almost exactly a year ago. That test brought a swift condemnation from Pakistan, and caused concern in Beijing.
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25 January 2002 |
Following the Indian test of a medium range 'Agni' ('fire' in Hindi) missile which is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead 2,500 kilometres, CND today urged New Delhi and Islamabad to lower the political rhetoric and show military restraint. Although recent news indicates that the prospect of war between India and Pakistan has receded, the 50 year old tension was given added significance and symbolism during and immediately after their reciprocal nuclear tests in 1998. These two disputatious and populous nations who have gone to war on three previous occasions now possess the ultimate threat of annihilation which has made their leaderships all the bolder and more willing to rattle the sabre and claim they had joined the 'nuclear club'. Although both now claimed possession of devises to destroy troop concentrations, strategic targets and major cities, the means to deliver them accurately and predictably was questioned by analysts who also doubted whether either had a nuclear command and control structure. Neither is now in doubt, although the deployment readiness and actual numbers of warheads in each arsenal is a matter of speculation. The US-led 'War on Terrorism' post 11th September presented opportunities as well as problems for both nations. Economic and military sanctions were progressively lifted as they were welcomed back into the fold of the international community without having to renounce the doctrine and capability that had put them on the outside in 1998. "Despite claims to the contrary, neither country's strategic stability has been enhanced since they acquired the ability to wage war with weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, their possession seems to have encouraged nuclear brinkmanship and significantly increased the possibility of a rapid escalation to nuclear exchange," said CND Chair Carol Naughton. For further information or interviews call the CND Office on 020 7700 2393
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