The Hindu : National : U.S. stand facilitated missile test

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Monday, Jul 10, 2006

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National

U.S. stand facilitated missile test

Sandeep Dikshit

If any nation has sufficient defensive capacity, then it is more relaxed, Gen. Pace said in June

NEW DELHI: The test flight of Agni-III missile was facilitated by the removal of U.S. objections, publicly aired by a senior American official during his visit in June.

"I do not see it as destabilising," General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military, said when asked whether India's plans to test the Agni-III would upset the military balance in the region.

Taking its cue, the Defence Research & Development Organisation declared a week later that it had resolved all technical issues and was ready to launch Agni-III.

"Stability increased"

Asked about India's plans to launch the intermediate range ballistic missile and Pakistan's move to purchase F-16 fighter planes, General Pace said the stability of nations was increased when they had confidence in their defensive capabilities.

"So, whether you are looking at Pakistan or the U.S. or India or any country, if any nation has sufficient defensive capacity, then it is more relaxed, I think, about the perceived threats and it will not act too quickly if it feels that it can always respond if it is attacked. So, I believe that it is stabilising to have countries — mine, yours, Pakistan, Afghanistan — that know that they have sufficient defence, and who have the intent to use it for only defence."

Asked whether the U.S. favoured such a test, Gen. Pace said, "First of all, India is a sovereign nation, and it is going to decide for itself what weapons to test and what not to. Second, there are other countries in this region who have also tested missiles. So the fact that a country is testing something like a missile is not destabilising. When countries have capacities that are designed for defence, and then are intended for use for defence, and they have competence in their ability to use those weapons for defence, it is a stabilising event. India will decide what it wants to do about testing missiles. But to answer your question, no I do not see that as destabilising."

A week later DRDO chief M. Natarajan declared that Agni-III, with a range of 3,000 km, was technically ready for launch.

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