According to Indian media, an Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile was tested on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. The ballistic missile, which was tested on Wednesday, has a range of 5,000 km.
The Indian government said in a statement that the latest missile tests were in line with “India’s policy of achieving minimum defense capabilities” and its “commitment not to use nuclear weapons”.
The Agni-5 missile, which was tested on Wednesday, can hit any part of China. That’s why a few days ago, China had objected to the missile.
Over the past few years, China has been expanding and refining its nuclear arsenal. Beijing’s move has forced even New Delhi to strengthen its nuclear capabilities.
India has already tested missiles capable of hitting any territory inside neighbouring Pakistan. India, which has been testing medium and long-range missiles since 1990, is the latest to test a missile amid growing strategic competition with China.
China and India have a long-running border dispute in the mountainous region of Ladakh. Last year, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the face-off. The Chinese army was also killed in the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley.
Earlier this month, talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders on withdrawing their troops from the border ended inconclusively. Both countries were embroiled in a bloody war in 1962.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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