Roundup: Pakistan Conducts Missile Tests Amid Rising Tensions with India

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 27, 2002

Roundup: Pakistan Conducts Missile Tests Amid Rising Tensions with India

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Following a test fire of its indigenously developed ballistic missile Hatf-V (Ghauri), Pakistan successfully conducted its second missile test in two days amid rising tensions with neighboring India over the disputed region of Kashmir.

The test was the first for the newly developed short range surface to surface ballistic missile Hataf-III (Ghaznavi), which was said capable of carrying warheads accurately up to a range of 290 kilometers.

The successful test fire of the indigenously developed Ghaznavi is the "culmination of years of hard work, dedication and professional excellence of Pakistani scientists and engineers," said the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) in a press release.

It was part of a series of missile tests which Pakistan planned to carry out from May 25-28, and the ISPR said "in a spirit of transparency and as a confidence building measure, Pakistan had given prior notification of the test to its neighbors as well as important countries."

India Saturday dismissed "as routine" the test firing of Ghauri missile by Pakistan and said that it was not impressed by Pakistan's missile antics as they were clearly targeted at the domestic audience.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee downplayed the test Saturday, saying India did not consider it a serious development.

"The test has taken place. We are not taking it with any greater amount of seriousness," Vajpayee, who is on a sojourn in Manali resort of Himachal Pradesh in north India, told reporters.

An Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, "It is difficult to understand why Pakistan chose this moment to test the missile and deplete its stock of clandestinely acquired missiles."

The timing of the tests seems a unfriendly gesture that added to world alarm to what U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called a very dangerous situation on the subcontinent.

The two neighbors have massed a million men on their border since a deadly raid on India's parliament in December that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Muslim militants.

The two sides have regularly traded heavy fire in Kashmir over the past one more week, killing dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides.

In the week between May 17 to 24, the LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an unprecedented 42 incidents of mortar duels, almost doubling the figure last year.

The disputed area of Kashmir has ignited at least two of their three wars between the Mid-Asian neighbors since independence in 1947.

The international community expressed deep concern over the area. U.S. President George W. Bush Sunday expressed "strong reservations" over Pakistan's missile tests but urged India not to see them as a "provocation."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he would invite the leaders of India and Pakistan to Kazakhstan in early June on occasion of a summit of the Council on Cooperation and Confidence Measures in Asia. Members of the council include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and several former Soviet republics.

French President Jacques Chirac telephoned Vajpayee Saturday on the tensions. And he called Musharraf later.

Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said Saturday that Pakistan welcomes any initiative which leads to de-escalation of the tension by convincing India to come to the negotiating table.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday night that Pakistan was committed to peace and did not want war and " India was responsible" for escalating tension along the borders.

Musharraf assured that Pakistan would continue to work for peace while discussing the situation through telephone with French President Jacques Chirac, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee Sunday called for unity among the nation to achieve victory over terrorism.

"In this hour of crisis, we should unitedly prepare to defend ourselves," Vajpayee said, urging the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder against the challenge, and win victory over terrorism.

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