India is increasing its defense capabilities by adding new powerful ballistic missiles in its arsenal. The latest to be added in the arsenal of the Indian army is the 3,500-km range Agni III missile that was successfully test fired last week. DRDO is now working on an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile with a range of over 5000 km. By 2010-2011 India hopes to join the elite missile club with its Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), Submarine-launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capabilities. If its mission succeeds then India could match the might of USA, Russia and China.

It is contended that India’s ambition will trigger another arms race in Asia. Pakistan with Chinese assistance is moving ahead with its missile program. Chinese assistance has extended to training Pakistani missile crews in the assembly, maintenance and simulated launches of these missiles. Pakistan had tested its Shaheen-II missile on April this year. This land-to-land missile with 2000 km range is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads.

China, in its endeavor to establish military supremacy in Asia as well as in the world, has developed a ballistic missile capable of blowing up satellites in space. So, as the arms race proliferate, the common people living in the subcontinent will lead a life of constant fear of enemy attack any day; or will the arms capability acting as a deterrence, act as an agent of peace in the long run?

Source: Times of India
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