DATE=4/11/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43079
TITLE=INDIA MISSILE
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE-YEARS, INDIA HAS TEST-FIRED
ITS AGNI MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE. THE TEST FIRING OF AN
UPGRADED VERSION OF THE MISSILE WENT AHEAD IN DEFIANCE OF
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, AND THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, AND JAPAN
HAVE EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE ACTION. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE
REPORTS FROM NEW DELHI, A LEADING INDIAN DEFENSE ANALYST SAYS THE
MISSILE TEST SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS LEADING TO AN ARMS RACE IN
SOUTH ASIA, BUT AS A LOGICAL STEP FOR INDIA'S DEFENSE NEEDS.
TEXT: A TEST FIRING OF THE THE UPGRADED VERSION OF THE AGNI
MISSILE, WHICH MEANS "FIRE" IN HINDI, HAS BEEN RUMORED FOR WEEKS
IN THE CAPITAL, NEW DELHI. THE MISSILE'S 25-HUNDRED KILOMETER
RANGE IS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT OVER ITS PREDECESSOR, WHICH
WAS LIMITED TO TARGETS OF ABOUT 15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS.
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY EXPRESSED REGRET OVER THE
MISSILE TEST. CALLING IT OUT OF STEP WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
THEY SAY INDICATED AN EASING OF TENSIONS IN THE REGION FOLLOWING
LAST YEAR'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
SINCE THE TESTS, SENIOR AMERICAN AND INDIAN DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A VARIETY OF ARMS CONTROL ISSUES.
UDAY BHASKAR IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE
STUDIES AND ANALYSIS IN INDIA -- A LEADING PUBLIC POLICY
INSTITUTE WITH CLOSE TIES TO INDIA'S DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT. HE
SAYS THE MISSILE TEST SHOULD HAVE SURPRISED NO ONE AND SHOULD NOT
AFFECT FUTURE TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE
INDIAN DIPLOMATS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEIR AMERICAN
COUNTERPARTS THAT THEY NEED A CREDIBLE DEFENSE.
// BHASKAR ACTUALITY //
INDIA INTENDS TO HAVE A CREDIBLE MISSILE DELIVERY SYSTEM. THAT
HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUT UP FRONT. AND AMERICA'S OWN STRATEGIC
COMMUNITY THAT LOOKS AT SOUTH ASIA IS AWARE OF THIS, SO IN THAT
SENSE I DO NOT THINK IT IS A SURPRISE.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. BHASKAR AND OTHER ANALYSTS CLOSE TO INDIA'S MILITARY SAY
VARIOUS INDIAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR YEARS FOR
MOVING TOO SLOWLY TO DEVELOP A MISSILE-DEFENSE SYSTEM. THE
DEFENSE ANALYST SAYS ARGUMENTS FROM THE WEST ABOUT THE NEED FOR
/NON PROLIFERATION DO NOT REALLY HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN NEW
DELHI AND OTHER REGIONAL CAPITALS.
// INSERT 2ND ACTUALITY //
WE ARE DEALING WITH AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS VERY MUCH IN THE
POST-PROLIFERATION STAGE AS FAR AS MISSILES ARE CONCERNED. AT
LAST COUNT ASIA HAD 12 COUNTRIES THAT ARE MISSILE CAPABLE AND AS
AMERICA KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL, THERE ARE NO DEFENSES AGAINST
BALLISTIC MISSILES EXCEPT TO HAVE A SIMILAR SORT OF AUTONOMOUS
CAPABILITY.
// END ACTUALITY //
UDAY BHASKAR SAYS INDIA WILL PUSH AHEAD TO DEVELOP A MORE
EFFECTIVE MISSILE THAN THE AGNI-TWO -- A MISSILE WITH A RANGE OF
MORE THAN THREE-THOUSAND KILOMETERS. BUT HE SAYS INDIA'S MISSILE
PROGRAM IS NOT BEING DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO A PERCEIVED THREAT
FROM ITS NEIGHBORS, SUCH AS PAKISTAN OR CHINA. HE SAYS INDIA'S
MISSILE PROGRAM IS BEING DEVELOPED TO GIVE HIS COUNTRY
FLEXIBILITY IN WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A POST-PROLIFERATION WORLD.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
11-Apr-99 9:05 AM EDT (1305 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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