March 27, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 23, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 26: New Delhi triggered yet another diplomatic controversy on Wednesday by flouting an agreement signed between Pakistan and India under which both the countries are required to provide each other with advance notification in respect of ballistic missile tests.

The agreement was signed between the two countries at Lahore on Feb 21, 1999. The agreement does not specify any particular range and pertains to all ballistic tests.

The foreign office said on Wednesday that Pakistan was not informed of Indian plans to conduct the latest test of Pirthivi missile. To the contrary, Pakistan had on Tuesday notified the Indian government of its plans to conduct the short-range Abdali missile test.

The Indian government informed Pakistan on Jan 8 when it test-fired the Agni missile. Earlier on Dec 26 last, the Indian side notified Pakistan about the Pirthivi missile test. However, the test could not take place due to a technical snag.

Analysts said on Wednesday while the missile tests by the two nuclear capable South Asian rivals may be all in the flow of their own respective technical development, the timing of the testing is always ascribed to some particular reason. Also, the global situation may have also had an influence on the timing.

The Abdali missile test by Pakistan is considered significant at a time when Muslim countries are deeply disturbed over the US rampage in Iraq.