India Launches New Missile Test

As if the North Korean missile dispute had not created enough controversy and active international debates, India launched its own test-firing of nuclear-capable missiles program yesterday, when it tested its Agni III missile, a news report stated. The launch occurred on Wheeler Island off Orissa state, in the eastern part of India, where the main missile testing center is.

According to the Indian Defense Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, who issued an official statement on Monday, the Agni III tests proved unsuccessful, because the missile splashed in the Bay of Bengal, which was not its initial target. Thus, preliminary reports regarding the fact that the missile tests proved successful were deemed as false.

Government officials from Pakistan, which is renowned to be India's long time military rival, stated that the Pakistani cabinet had been previously informed about the tests of this long-range missile, which was designed to attain 1,900 mile located targets. This is not uncommon at all, since both countries launch missile tests and have created the habit of informing each other in advance, especially when long-range ballistic missiles are involved.

However, there have been many Indian newspapers which have speculated upon the fact that this missile was created with the potential purpose of hitting China, yet Indian defense expert C. Uday Bhaskar, dismissed such claims: "Any strategic capability is not aimed at any particular nation. To say it is China-specific is misleading".

The reason why such rumors exist is because diplomatic relations between China and India have been always tense especially because of the 1962 war, conducted for the determination of the exact border between the two. Nevertheless, the relationship of the two Asia countries has improved quite a lot recently, ever since they strengthened their economic ties, signing numerous trade agreements.

Photo Credits: India Daily.