Pakistan says test firing is a defence procedure

ISLAMABAD, October 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Amidst rising tensions with its arch rival India, Pakistan Saturday, October 5, vowed to forge ahead with its defense policy of "minimum deterrence", despite international condemnation of its pre-election testing of a nuclear capable missile.  

"Pakistan will continue to follow its policy of minimum deterrence," Information Minister Nisar Memon told Agence France-Presse (AFP) late Friday, October 4, immediately after India responded to Pakistan's test with a test of its own medium range surface-to-air missile.  
"It is the cornerstone of our defense policy."  

The dual testing by the nuclear arch-rivals came amid a resurgence of high-stakes tensions over Kashmir, the Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan. The United States, Britain, Canada, and Japan have mounted a chorus of condemnation against the tests.  

The United States said it was "disappointed" at the rival tests which it said made it harder to prevent a nuclear arms race.  

"We're disappointed that ballistic missile tests are occurring in the region," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday.  

"There is a charged atmosphere in the region and these tests can contribute to that atmosphere, and make it harder to prevent a costly and destabilizing nuclear and missile arms race."  

The Indian testing came nine hours after Pakistan test-launched its home-grown Hatf IV or Shaheen surface-to-surface missile, with a range of 800 kilometers (500 miles) meaning it can penetrate deep into Indian territory. Both countries informed each other in advance, and both claimed success in their respective tests.  

Indian leaders have been leveling fiery accusations against Pakistan following an explosion of killings in the Indian-administered half of Kashmir during elections for a state assembly. The bloodshed has claimed over 680 lives since August 2, when India announced the polls.  

New Delhi pointed the finger at Pakistan, whom it accuses of backing Islamic militants waging a gruesome insurgency against Indian rule.  

Pakistan denies giving more than diplomatic and moral support, and in turn accuses Indian troops of violently suppressing Kashmiris seeking self-determination as advocated in decades-old UN Security Council resolutions.  

Pakistan's military said the Shaheen, test-fired at 8:30 am (0230 GMT) in the southern desert areas of Baluchistan province, "successfully" hit its dummy target.
After the test, spokesman Major-General Rashid Qureshi launched into a tirade against "Indian aggression" after the Shaheen test.  

"India cannot divide the people of Pakistan, who stand united to face any Indian aggression," he told reporters during a visit to the central Pakistani city of Multan.  

"India will not be able to bear heavy losses in case she tries to impose war on Pakistan," he was quoted as saying by The Nation daily.  

Qureshi accused India of trying to blackmail Pakistan "by leveling false allegations against us," in reference to the blame hoisted on Pakistan by New Delhi over the Kashmir poll violence.  

"India cannot blackmail Pakistan at any moment. Pakistan can never accept any pressure from Indian rulers," the general declared.  

Defense analysts on both sides of the border however dismissed international concern over the tests.  

"India had to do something to boost the morale of its people after Pakistan successfully tested its Shaheen missile," defense analyst and retired air force marshal Ayaz Ahmed told AFP.  

"There is no need to get concerned."  

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes also sought to play down the gravity of the Pakistani test.  

"It is a routine test. It need not worry us. They have their missiles and they are testing them. We have our missiles and we also do tests. We

do not see a reason why we should be worried," said Fernandes.  

A Defense Ministry spokesman Saturday described India's missile launch as "an experiment" rather than a "missile test."  

"Akash (Sky) is a surface-to-air missile, which has been part of our missile program for the past 17 years," he told AFP.  

"This is the best time of year to carry out trials, given the clear weather and the end of the monsoon season.  

"The Akash is not yet fully developed. What happened yesterday (Friday) was a research trial, planned by our scientists maybe up to year in advance. The trial was aimed at checking some parameters not analyzed during our last launch," he said.  

"So where does the question of tit-for-tat tests or initiating an arms race come from?" he asked.  

C. Uday Bhaskar, deputy director of the New Delhi based Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis, agreed.  

"There is no connection between India's trial and Pakistan's test. The missiles are different - India's is a surface-to-air missile and Pakistan's a ballistic missile," he said.

"I suspect Pakistan's test firing of the Shaheen just five or six days before elections there is an attempt to keep up the anti-India rhetoric," Bhaskar said.  

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