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AP World Politics
Pakistan, India conduct tit-for-tat missile tests
Fri Oct 4,11:39 AM ET
By LAURINDA KEYS, Associated Press Writer
NEW DELHI, India - Pakistan and India conducted tit-for-tat missile tests Friday, a reminder of the threat of war between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, which have 1 million soldiers deployed along their tense border.
The two countries notified each other of the tests, according to an agreement, and each called their operations routine.
Pakistan tested a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface missile able to hit most targets inside India. About 11 hours later, India tested its most sophisticated surface-to-air missile, which has a range of about 25 kilometers (15 miles), and is meant to hit multiple targets in the air.
Pakistan's Information Minister Nisar Memon said in Islamabad, however, that by testing on the same day, "India is trying to turn this into an arms race."
India said it conducted two missile tests last week without fanfare or criticism, and Defense Minister George Fernandes said there was no reason for concern.
"I don't see any reason why we should be worried about Pakistan conducting tests," the usually bellicose Fernandes said at a book launch in Bombay. "They have their missiles and they are testing it. We have our missiles and we also do tests."
The Indian government called Pakistan's test a publicity stunt ahead of next week's general elections, the first since a 1999 military coup.
"Missile tests in South Asia are not devoid of symbolism," said Navy Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar, deputy director of India's Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses. "Pakistan's ... missile test is clearly aimed at Pakistan's domestic constituency, where elections are scheduled to be held next week."
The two countries have posted about 1 million soldiers on war alert along their 2,910-kilometer (1,800 mile) frontier for most of this year, and were close to a full-fledged conflict in June before the United States, Britain and Russia exerted diplomatic pressure.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell ( news - web sites) has urged both sides to take steps to lower tension because of the threat that a spark could ignite a conflict in such a state of readiness.
Bhaskar said that such procedures worked on Friday. "What has to be appreciated is that both countries adhered to certain confidence-building measures, despite the prevailing tensions," said Bhaskar. "Both countries had informed each other about the tests. This is what has to be built upon."
India and Pakistan have not restored their ambassadors, who were withdrawn after a December attack on the Indian Parliament that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants and the Pakistani secret service. Pakistan and the militant groups denied any involvement.
The two countries pulled back from the brink of war in June when Washington assured New Delhi that Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf would halt militant incursions across the frontier of Kashmir ( news - web sites), the divided Himalayan region that both countries claim. They have fought two of their three wars over it since independence from Britain in 1947.
India says Musharraf has not kept the pledge, and militant attacks in India's portion of Kashmir have drastically increased, with more than 130 killed as the government conducts elections for a new state legislature.
Both countries tested underground nuclear devices in 1998, and both say they have nuclear weapons in their arsenals. The numbers are unknown, but many analysts believe neither country has assembled nuclear warheads ready to attach to missiles.
Pakistan said the test of its Shaheen missile, fourth in the Hatf series with an estimated range of 750 kilometers (380 miles), was a success and insisted it was not intended to inflame tensions with India.
"It has nothing to do with anything, but to test the technical aspect of the missile," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said.
India also said the firing of its short-range Akash missile was to check its guidance system, and was part of tests that have taken place for the past two weeks. "The missile is meant for air defense. It will be used by the army and air force," said P.K. Bandhopadhyaya, the Defense Ministry spokesman.
"Early last week the Nag was tested. Later in the week, the Trishul was test fired. These are routine user trials," he said. The Trishul is a surface-to-surface or surface-to-air missile with a range of 50 kilometers (30 miles), while the Nag is a short-range, anti-tank guided missile.
Both nations also have long range ballistic missiles, with ranges of up to 2,120 kilometers (1,320 miles), capable of hitting major targets in the neighboring country.
Pakistan says it conducted its last missile test in May in response to Indian tests in January.
Military analysts in Pakistan say the testing is part of a dangerous pattern between India and Pakistan.
"As long as the troops remain at that level of readiness on our border, you can't afford to ignore it," said Shireen Mazari, head of Pakistan's Institute of Strategic Study. "India has raised the tension to just below actually fighting a war. There isn't much more they can do but go to war."
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