India on Tuesday clarified that the Agni-V missile test was not targeted against any third country and the test was well within the international obligation. New Delhi's clarification comes barely hours after China cautiously responded to the Agni-V missile test, which was successfully tested on Monday morning in the Indian state of Odisha.    

Like Us on Facebook

"India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country. India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all other do the same. India's strategic autonomy and growing engagement contributes to strategic stability," Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, said.

New Delhi's deliberate reference to "international obligations" is apparently in response to China's move to rake up the issue of the United Nation Security Council over the latest Agni-V missile test.

China's Foreign Ministry had categorically reminded India that "the UN Security Council has explicit regulations on whether India can develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons." 

Analysts said that China was apparently referring to the UN Resolution 1172 that was passed immediately after a series of nuclear tests was conducted by India and Pakistan in 1998.

The UN Resolution 1172 passed on June 6, 1998 urged India and Pakistan to stop further nuclear tests and issued prohibitive guidance including limiting their nuclear weapon programs and ending the development of ballistic missiles technology. 

Apart from the indirect reference to UN resolution, Beijing also sought to remind India that maintaining strategic balance in South Asia is immensely important for maintenance of regional peace.

China, however, chose to downplay several proactive reports from Indian media that Agni-V's staggering strike range of 5,000 and 5,500 kilometers can penetrate as far as northern China. Nonetheless, it advocated that relevant media houses must play constructive role in promoting peace and stability between the two Asian countries.

India had first conducted the Agni-V missile test in 2012 and was later followed with three more tests in subsequent years. The Monday's test was supposedly Agni-V missile last test, with several defense experts predicting that the ballistic intercontinental missile will be soon inducted in the Indian military.  

TagsIndia and China, Agni-V Missile, Agni Missiles, china