Missile plan capped for USA's sake

ANOTHER HURDLE: Security experts say the government has buckled under US pressure.

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Keywords: Nuclear Deal, USA

New Delhi: Defence analysts have slammed the government for its decision to cap India’s programme to build inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restrict their range to a 5,000 km.

They say the decision compromises national security and was done to secure the nuclear deal with the US.

When India test-fired the 3,000 km-range Agni III in April, scientists hinted that an inter-continental ballistic missile was on the way.

"We have made the Agni III missile as a stepping stone for many future things," Avinash Chander, Agni Programme Director, had said in April.

Now, scientists say India doesn’t need to cap its missile programme to convey any message to the US on the civilian nuclear deal. Politicians say it sends out the wrong message.

“This a right message to them (the US) but it is a wrong to us. The government should not compromise on this issue,” said RSP MP Abani Roy.

Capping missile capability at 5,000 km sends several messages. One, India is not targeting anything beyond Asia. Our Uranium needs for nuclear power will be met by nations beyond Asia. Two, a long-range ballistic missile is bound to have a nuclear warhead. It's useless otherwise.

Capping capability at 5000 km suggests India may not need to test an ICBM missile after all. Defence experts want to know from the government what is more important: extending our capability in nuclear missiles or getting the Indo US civilian nuclear deal through?

"There should be no compromise in our nuclear sovereignty and our strategy," said BJP Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Prime Minister had promised in Parliament there would “no capping our strategic programme.” Strategic experts say the government must uphold its promise.