WASHINGTON, Aug 11: By developing a cruise missile, Pakistan has given a significant boost to its arsenal, says Robert Karniol, Asia-Pacific editor for Jane’s Defence Weekly.

His comments were published on US news websites on Thursday with comments by other defence experts, some saying that Pakistan had been trying to develop a cruise missiles for several years.

While Babur’s payload capacity and weight of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were not known, cruise missiles would be a significant boost to its arsenal, said Mr Karniol.

He said he expects Pakistan to now focus on developing a submarine-launched system. “These kinds of capabilities are very significant strike weapons.”

Some experts said the Babur missile, with its 500km range, was superior to India’s Brahmos cruise missile, which has a range of 290km.

Others said it matched Brahmos, although the Pakistan missile does not have a supersonic range like Brahmos.

The experts described Pakistan’s decision to test-fire a cruise missile as part of its effort to maintain a military balance with India. They predicted the arms race between the two nuclear neighbours to increase, particularly if India acquired high-technology US weapons such as the Patriot missile system.

Some websites also published a comparison of defence capabilities of the two countries. According to these estimates, Pakistan’s defence budget for 2005-06 is $3.75 billion and it is believed to possess 25 to 50 nuclear warheads.

Pakistan has 619,000 active troops, 513,000 reserves, 290,000 paramilitary forces, 2,460 tanks, 2,000 artillery pieces and 1,250 APCs. Pakistan Air Force has 415 combat aircraft and the navy has eight submarines and seven surface combatants.

Missile types and ranges in the Pakistani arsenal include Shaheen 1 (600km), Shaheen 2 (up to 2,000km), Ghauri 1 (1,500km), Ghauri 2 (2,300km), Hatf 1A (100km), Hatf 2 (180km), Hatf 3 (290km), and cruise missile Babur (500km).

India’s $19 billion defence budget for 2005-06 far exceeds that of Pakistan and the former is estimated to have 100 to 150 nuclear warheads.

India has 1,325,000 active troops, 535,000 reserves and 1,089,700 paramilitary forces. It has 3,898 tanks, about 4,500 artillery pieces and 300 armoured personnel carriers. The Indian air force has 680 Combat aircraft and the navy 16 submarines and 25 surface combatants, including one aircraft carrier, eight destroyers and 16 frigates.

Missiles in the Indian arsenal include Agni 1 (2,500km), Agni 2 (3,000km; upgraded up to 3,500km), Prithvi SS-150 (150km), Prithvi SS-250 (250 km), and supersonic cruise missile Brahmos (290 km).