India's New Missile Fails In Test Launch
Richard Rittierodt - All Headline News Staff Writer New Delhi (AHN) - According to the defense minister of India, their first test-firing of a new missile designed to carry nuclear warheads across much of Asia and the Middle East was unsuccessful. Although officials had initially reported the test-firing to be a success, Defense Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Sunday that the Agni III missile plunged into the Bay of Bengal short of its target. The launch came as U.S. President George W. Bush tries to push a civilian nuclear deal with India past a skeptical Congress. The deal would allow India to keep making nuclear weapons. However, critics state that the pact could undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Mukherjee stated that India would continue to press ahead with the Agni III program. Most of India's current crop of missiles have been largely intended to confront Pakistan. On the other hand, Agni III is designed to reach 1,900 miles. That would put China's major cities well into range, as well as targets deep in the Middle East. Indian defense analyst C. Uday Bhaskar stated that missile would establish the credibility of India's deterrent profile, but dismissed speculations that this missile was designed with China in mind. Bhaskar said, "any strategic capability is not aimed at any particular nation. To say it is China-specific is misleading." India is trying to establis |
