Test by fire

In the past,the US greeted every Indian missile test with the threat of more technological sanctions. Washington’s praise of India’s impeccable non-proliferation record in the wake of the Agni V test reflects the sea change in Western attitudes following Delhi’s determined pursuit of the historic civil nuclear initiative during 2005-08. The US and its allies now see India as a responsible nuclear power and a strategic partner. Equally important has been China’s restrained response. While Agni V will eventually give Delhi a deterrent capability against Beijing,Chinese officials rightly emphasised the fact that India is not a rival. As it begins to acquire nuclear parity with China,Delhi should now have the confidence to intensify cooperation with Beijing across a broad range of areas.

The implications of Agni V go beyond the nuclear domain into outer space. It gives India the capacity to launch many small military satellites in one shot on short notice and experiment with anti-satellite weapons that some major powers have already tested. The DRDO has given the nation a potential military workhorse to access outer space in the form of Agni V. With Defence Minister A.K. Antony reluctant to press for a comprehensive military space programme,it is up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demonstrate that Delhi has the political will to arrest the widening gap between India and other great powers in the military uses of outer space.