Beyond the Sparks and Fumes of India's Agni-V Test

Missil interceptor, courtesy of Soldiers Media Center/flickr

Ground-based missile interceptor

India now exudes confidence at having come of age as a space-faring power with a minimum credible nuclear deterrence. A follow-up task awaits New Delhi. It must prudently send out the right political message across to China and other major powers. Both China and India have consistently enunciated the principle of no-first-use of nuclear weapons in the conduct of international affairs. The two countries have also regularly called for the non-militarization of space. It is, therefore, common sense that India and China should now be able to move towards meaningful engagement based on the principles of trust or at least ‘trust but verify’.

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