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U.S. urges India, Pakistan not to test missiles
January 15, 1999
Web posted at: 6:19 p.m. EST (2319 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- American officials are publicly and privately urging both India and Pakistan not to conduct any new tests of ballistic missiles, which could reignite an arms race in South Asia.
Recent press reports in the region have said missile tests by the two countries may be imminent. U.S. officials consider such missiles a threat to regional security because they are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials tell CNN that India may be about to test a sea-launched version of the Prithvi missile, a short-range missile developed in India over the past 10 to 15 years.
They also believe Pakistan may be about to test an M-11 missile, a short-range missile that the United States believes Pakistan either bought from China or produced in Pakistan with Chinese technology.
"We have urged both sides to exercise restraint and to avoid inflammatory actions that would heighten tensions and fuel a missile arms race," State Department spokesman James Rubin said Friday. "Missile tests would not be helpful to efforts to reduce tensions and build confidence through dialogue in South Asia."
Rubin said U.S. embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad have raised the issues, as have other countries. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will visit both countries later in the month to discuss the matter, Rubin said.
Last April, Pakistan test-fired a medium-range Ghuari missile, which U.S. officials believe Pakistan bought from North Korea. Pakistani officials insist the missile was produced domestically.
In May, first India and then Pakistan tested a series of nuclear devices, escalating tensions in South Asia and raising fears of nuclear proliferation. Both governments subsequently promised to adhere to a moratorium on further nuclear tests.
However, that moratorium does not apply to missile tests. Both India and Pakistan have said they plan to proceed with their missile programs.
State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel and Reuters contributed to this report.