NEW DELHI: The 13th test flight of the medium range surface to surface has been postponed. The crucial user trial scheduled for May 15 at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur-on-sea has been put off in view of the Prime Minister’s visit to US. The delay has jeopardized the development of the missiles along India’s western border later this year. In a letter sent to A-P J_ Abdul Kalam the Defence Research & Development Organization chef and the father of the country’s missile program Prabhakar Menor Joint Secretary in the PMO has desired that the Prithvi test Might be deferred in view of the Prime Minister’s visit to U S. The crucifies fight was to be conducted by Army personnel and involves massive Preparations.
The request for putting off Prithvi inconvenient test launch came within Hours of the US Congress extending an invitation lo Prime Minister joint session on 18 may.
US CONGRESS broke with an existing Convention of not allowing any visiting head of government to make such an address for the last four and half years thanks in no small measure to Lee Hamilton the powerful chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to reliable sources the of the trials.
The more elaborate trial the Government is likely to argue calls for greater preparation.
The postponement leaves India vulnerable to the Pakistani Hatf-l and Hatf-II missiles which target a number of cities including Jammu. Amritsar.
The defence establishment is extremely sore at the postponement Governments apparent justification files in the face of the fact that it was Congressman Hamilton who in a particularly devastating speech came down heavily on the Prithvi missile around the same time as he threw his weight behind inviting Rao to address the join session.
In a major foreign policy speech before the Asia Society in Washington on April 29 he warned India against the deployment of Prithvi missile.
This would lead to an arms race in missiles in the region he said adding that he hoped that such a path both India and Pakistan would avoid.
Hamilton at the proposed deployment of Prithvi was based on the belief that it would be quickly followed by Pakistani deployment of the Chinese-builtM-11 missiles. He urged a complete ban on the deployment of all kinds of missiles in South Asia.
On India’s nuclear program Hamilton injected a new angle by claiming that US had discriminated against Pakistan’s program while ignoring India’s activities. Breathing fire and brimstone he said In my view US has largely ignored Indias nuclear program in recent years while imposing penalties on Pakistan [or its program Yet Indias program was as much a threat to US as Pakistan. Also the US leader fully endorsed tie Cy Administrations against to sell. F-16 fighters to Pakistan in return for a cap on its nuclear program. Even on Kashmir where the Clinton Administration has fallen silent for some time Hamilton attacked the Indian strategy of overwhelming forces as this would only increase the suffering. In return for the prestige of addressing the US Congress the US leaders fears have been scuttled with getting Prithvi out of the way for the ume being As Raos managers plan it he would be addressing US Congress al 10;30.a.m.on May 18 which would be prime-time for Doordarshan audience back home.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 20, 1994
