Pakistan cries foul over India's Prithvi-II missile test

Reacting to the recent supersonic interceptor missile test by India, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister's adviser on Foreign Affairs, has said that Islamabad will acquire advanced technology to improve its defence and will also raise the matter at the international arena.

Quoting Radio Pakistan, the Dawn stated that Aziz expressed concern over India's missile test, saying it will disturb the balance of power in the region.

Asserting that Pakistan is not oblivious to its defence, Aziz added that Islamabad will continue to upgrade its defensive capabilities.

Assuring that Pakistan would raise its voice at the international level against India's defense developments, the diplomat alleged that India is enjoying the cooperation of the United States, as Washington thinks a strong India is vital to contain China.

India successfully test fired its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile from a test range off the Odisha coast on Sunday.

The interceptor was engaged against a target which was a naval version of Prithvi missile launched from a ship anchored inside Bay of Bengal, taking up the trajectory of a hostile ballistic missile.

The target missile was launched at about 11.15 hours and the interceptor, Advanced Air Defence missile positioned at Abdul Kalam island (Wheeler Island) getting signals from tracking radars, roared through its trajectory to destroy the incoming hostile missile in mid-air, in an endo-atmospheric altitude, the sources said.

"The 'kill' effect of the interceptor was ascertained by analysing data from multiple tracking sources," a DRDO scientist said.

The interceptor is a 7.5-meter long single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator, the DRDO sources said.

The interceptor missile had its own mobile launcher, secure data link for interception, independent tracking and homing capabilities and sophisticated radars, the DRDO sources added.

The success of Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile test now strengthens India's position in the very exclusive Ballistic Missile Defence club of the US, Russia and Israel.