WASHINGTON, April 12: The United States on Thursday urged India and Pakistan to keep each other informed while testing missiles, but declined to condemn New Delhi’s latest test.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a briefing in Washington that the Indians do have an active missile programme and they also have an agreement with Pakistan to notify Islamabad before conducting a test.
“We urge all the governments in the region — India, Pakistan included -- 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 US considers the latest Indian test an action that can destabilize the region, Mr McCormack 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 military in launching the missile.”
The questioner reminded him that the US is currently urging Iran and North Korea to dismantle their nuclear programmes and asked him if he thought it was appropriate for India to test a missile that actually has a nuclear capability?
“Well, it’s not the first time they’ve done this to my knowledge,” said the spokesman.
