NEW DELHI, Oct 4: India test-fired its domestically-built, surface-to-air Akash missile on Friday, just hours after Pakistan tested its own ballistic missile.
Akash was fired from a mobile launcher at the Interim Test Range at Chandipur-on-Sea near Balasore in Orissa.
It has a range of 25 kilometres and is able to strike several targets simultaneously.
Interestingly, Pakistan’s test-firing of the Shaheen missile drew a mild rebuke from New Delhi, where the foreign ministry spokesman said: “As we have said before, we are not particularly impressed with these missile antics of Pakistan. As is well known, Pakistan’s missiles are based on clandestinely imported material, equipment and technology.”
“It was a routine test. We are testing different parameters of the missile since the past fortnight,” said P. K. Bandhopadhyaya, the defence ministry spokesman.
“The missile is meant for air defence. It will be used by the army and air force,” Bandopadhyaya was quoted as saying.
Indian warplanes, in a rarely seen extended exercise in New Delhi, flew over southern parts of the Indian capital on Friday morning but it was not clear if the manoeuvres were linked to Pakistan’s missile test.
Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes, when asked by journalists to comment on the Shaheen test, chided the reporters thus: “Why are you so obsessed with Pakistan. Let them have their tests, let us do ours. What is this Pakistan, Pakistan all the time.”
Some analysts have suggested that with the current international focus on a possible US-led military attack against Iraq, India may be tempted to take the opportunity of launching a strike on Pakistan.
