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U.S. reacts cautiously to Agni III missile test

``Indians do have an active missile programme''

Washington: The United States has reacted cautiously to the test-firing of Agni III missile by India, stating that countries in the region should not take any action that would destabilise the balance in Asia. It also urged all nations in Asia to work within the parameters of agreements on prior notification with respect to missile tests.

``The Indians do have an active missile programme. And, typically what they do under their agreements with the Pakistan government is there's a prior notification. I can't verify for you at this point that did take place in these circumstances,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

``What we have — what we urge all the governments in the region to do, India, Pakistan included, is to work within the constraints of the agreements that they have regarding notification and also not take any actions that would be destabilising to the balance in the region,'' he said.

Asked if the test could be considered an action that would destabilise the region, he said: ``I'd have to check to see if this is something that is technically different or goes beyond the previous technical, demonstrated capabilities of the Indian Government, the Indian military in launching the missile''. ``I'm not aware that it does, but I'll be happy to check for you,'' he said.

Asked if India should be test-firing a nuclear capable missile at a time when Washington is trying to dismantle the nuclear programme of Iran and North Korea, Mr. McCormack said ''... it's not the first time they've done this, to my knowledge, test-fired missiles.'' `

`India is trying to enter into a different kind of relationship with the rest of the world vis-a-vis its nuclear programme. We are in negotiations with the Indian Government about that; currently ongoing,'' the spokesman said.

``They have, in certain international fora, demonstrated a certain level of responsibility with respect to preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction technology, including nuclear technology. So India certainly is trying to, I would say, enter into a different kind of relationship with the rest of the world than it has previously had on the nuclear issue,'' Mr. McCormack added.

Promote peace: China

A report from Beijing says that China has urged India to promote peace and stability in Asia after New Delhi tested Agni-III.

``As for the ballistic missile test of India, we have noted the reports,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

He said: ``we hope that India, as a country with an important influence in this region, can work to maintain and promote peace and stability in the region.

``We hope they can make a positive contribution in this regard and play a positive role.'' — PTI, Agencies

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