India didn’t inform ‘Nirbhay Cruise Missile’ test ,says Pakistan

India didn’t inform ‘Nirbhay Cruise Missile’ test ,says Pakistan…

India failed to notify Pakistan when its Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-launched the nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile.

“The test was not notified to Pakistan. The bilateral agreement on pre-notification of missile tests covers only ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles are not covered. Developments like these endanger the strategic stability in South Asia,” responded the spokesman to a query.

He emphasized that this underscores the need for Pakistan and India to engage in meaningful discussions on further measures for confidence-building, avoidance of arms race and promotion of strategic stability in South Asia, among other issues.

“Pakistan stands ready for such talks with India. Our proposal for a Strategic Restraint Regime for South Asia is still on the table. The international community should also take note of the reports that India had been exercising ‘strategic restraint’ on its missile development prior to getting the MTCR membership,” he added.

Pakistan says that the presence of terrorist sanctuaries operating inside Afghanistan is an “alarming” situation and it is time that Afghanistan does its part in ensuring that all terrorist sanctuaries are taken out, as at present the Kabul government is not reciprocating and the continued attacks from across the western borders recently resulted in the killing of Pakistani security personnel.

Pakistan says it never initiates fire but only fires when it is fired upon at a time when the presence of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan is an established reality. The message of asking Kabul to do more was conveyed by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a meeting with Commander United States Central Command (US Centcom) General Joseph L Votel in Rawalpindi and also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the weekly media briefing.