Nuclear-capable ICBM Agni V test fire by India -- Security threat for Pakistan: Hameed Gul perspective

NEW DELHI, India (Thu, Apr 19) – India joins today the exclusive club of ICBM (Inter-continental Ballistic Missile) capable nations by successfully testing Agni-V ballistic missile, with a strike range of over 5,000 km, from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast at 8.07 am on Thursday. 

Nuclear-capable ICBM Agni V test fire by India -- Security threat for Pakistan

"The mission was successful. The missile hit the target in Indian Ocean in a perfect way," chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), VK Saraswat said.

The nuclear-capable Agni-V ballistic missile, which will bring the whole of China as well as other regions under its strike range, will become fully operational by 2014-2015 after "four to five repeatable tests" and user trials.

Now let’s come to the question which stings the mind of every Pakistani, like me, after hearing the missile test-fire news. What kind of national security threats for Pakistan can be aroused by India’s latest missile expedition?  

I heard this news in the morning on Dawn News and soon I found the answer to my above-mentioned question on the same news channel when Ex-chief of ISI, General Hameed Gul, was taken on phone line to answer the same question.

According to General Hameed Gul, if somebody has to worry about India’s ICBM test-fire that could be China not Pakistan. Why? I wonder after the answer from ex ISI chief, and he replied, because India doesn’t need 5000-kilometer-ranged missile to target any point in Pakistan. The Agni-V can’t be manufactured without the technological assistance from United States, he said further, and U.S. has done it to keep China under pressure. 

The answer of Mr Gul was logical enough to satisfy at least me; but I’m shocked with the silence and double standards from the whole world. Only few days back, many will remember, how harshly North Korea was criticized by the whole world for launching the rocket but no one has reacted over the India’s test fire of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, Agni-V.

On the other hand; reacting cautiously to India's test of Agni-V missile, China today said the two countries are not rivals and enjoy "sound" relations though the sources in the Chinese establishment feel that the launch can give rise to another round of arms race in the region.

India has become the sixth member of ICBM club after U.S., Russia, China, France and UK as its members already.      

Report Tags: ICBM, Agni-V ballistic missile, Agni 5, India, Missile Technology, Hameed Gul, Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO, VK Saraswat, intercontinental ballistic missile