NEW DELHI: The Indian security establishment says China, which not only has a huge nuclear missile arsenal but also actively helped Pakistan develop its stockpile in violation of global non-proliferation norms, has no business whatsoever to complain about the recent test of the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
“Every country has the right to build its defence capabilities to address its security concerns and threat perceptions. How do we deter an adversary who is strong? We have to build capability in order to strike deep into the adversary’s heartland, effectively take on targets that will hurt him,” said Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Wednesday.
Asked by TOI about Beijing’s strong protest against the test of Agni-V, which brings the whole of China within its strike envelope+ of over 5,000-km, the IAF chief said: “In international diplomacy, such posturing and signalling will always be there. We should just go on with our task to meet our own requirements, which are not directed at any country.”
“If we are legitimately developing our capabilities, I don’t think anybody can or should complain,” he added. Though he did not name China, or directly refer to the
Beijing-Islamabad nexus in proliferation of nuclear weapons, Raha went on to say it was “common knowledge” as to what was happening in the region in terms of “collusion and transfer of technology forbidden” by international treaties.
Apart from their militarily helping Pakistan bog India down in south Asia, China has been rapidly expanding its own nuclear missile arsenal, which now includes the DongFeng-31A (11,200-km) and DF-41 (14,500-km) land-based ballistic missiles. The two missiles, which completely dwarf the yet-to-beinducted Agni-V, are capable of hitting any Indian city.
Significantly, as pointed out by international experts, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force now also wields ICBMs with MIRV (multiple independently-targetable re-entry vehicles) payloads. A single such missile can carry several nuclear warheads, each programmed to hit different targets. “China, whose conventional as well as nuclear forces are double or triple to those of India, is just crying wolf,” said a senior officer.
China has also directly targeted India by deploying medium to long-range nuclear missiles in
Tibet as well as Delingha and Da Qaidam in the northern parts of Qinghai province for a decade now. Raha, who retires on December 31, said Indian government’s overall thrust was to “bolster our capability” for deterrence. “India believes in peace and tranquillity. We are not keen to fight with anyone. But we have been drawn into conflicts several times. So, we have to build our capability to deter,” he said.
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: The Indian security establishment says China, which not only has a huge nuclear missile arsenal but also actively helped Pakistan develop its stockpile in violation of global non-proliferation norms, has no business whatsoever to complain about the recent test of the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
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