Analysis: Missile test will fuel arms race argument debunked

DefenseTalk.com ^

[DTAD]

There has been a lot of hue and cry over Pakistan’s recent cruise missile test and also missile tests that Pakistan conducted in the past. Most of Pakistan’s weapon development nuclear or missile has been in response to Indian nuclear and missile acquisitions and developments. Article linked below mentions how this test will “fuel” the arms race in south Asia says Mr. Anil Chakraborty, a defense and strategy analyst. Mr. Anil Chakraborty is forgetting that it has always been India which fueled the arms race in India, other countries in the region only reacted to what India did as far as it’s military weapons acquisitions and development (outlined below).

India conducted its first nuclear weapons tests in 1970s and world did not say anything. The so called “defense and strategy” analyst did not label it as fueling the arms face. It wasn’t labeled “fueling the arms race” when India conducted over 50 missile tests over the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It wasn’t labeled “fueling the arms race” when India conducted more nuclear devices in 1998 nor was it labeled “fueling the arms race” when India signed Phalcon deals with Israel, fighter jet and tank deals with Russia, development and testing of Brahmos cruise missile. India is also working on ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) with range of over 10,000 KM – ICBM by design is considered offensive weapon. When India tests its first ICBM, would these so called “defense and strategy analyst” declare that as “fueling” the arm race?

[Boundless]

> Missile test will fuel arms race argument, debunked

The Pak GLCM test has reportedly caused India to
rethink their desire to have an ABM system, which
is a de-escalation in the arms race there, however ...

We still haven't heard how accurate the Pak system is,
and that really matters from the standpoint of risk
of premature retalitory strikes. If its CEP is a
large footprint, it can only be used for WMD, and
India might attack the next time they detect a launch.