India test-fires 5,000 km Nuclear capable Agni-V ICBM missile

[KhalsaWarrior]

India would be wise to start developing an independent policy in regards to Afghanistan instead of with the lackey regime of Kharzai whose rule does not even extend beyond Kabul. What the Kharzai government says and does is of no consequence.


My statement in saying India is a doormat is credible since the missile test they conducted was ONLY meant as a deterrent towards China-and no one else for that matter. Hence, this missile test only stirred up regional discord. Chinese analysts pointed out that India has 8000 km range, not 5000 km range, but that India is hiding this in order to not alarm their Western friends - that is nothing else but being a doormat. So India is only intent on sending a message to China?

Instead of developing common interests with nations in closest proximity, India has aligned themselves with the West, a sinking ship that is long past sailing.

Foreign policy is flexible. Its not really a line set in stone.

The missile test gave India a credible deterrent. As Admin Khan pointed out India has some border disputes with China and doesnt want China to take India lightly.

You are perhaps unaware of India and China relations. There has always been mistrust, with a war fought in 62.

China claims a few of India's parts as its own and India says China is illegally occupying its territory.

And China also blames India for stirring up trouble in Tibet and allowing the Dalai Lama to stay in India. India is home o world's largest immigrant Tibetan population, fact resented by China.

Plus both countries are competitors in various regions. Indian and Chinese oil and mineral companies compete with each other in Africa, Lat Am and Central Asia.

You must have heard about the recent trouble in South China Sea? Well India is out there trying to drill oil in a disputed region of the SC sea claimed by China but owned by Phillipines. And China doesn't like that.

So you see, you would be underestimating India's independent policy and overestimating Western pressure if you think India conducted the test at Western bidding.

About Afghanistan, just because India agrees with the WoT doesn't mean its a doormat. India still refuses to send soldiers to Afghanistan and instead engages in other activities like building power plants, dams, roads etc. So India isnt really in any camp. It has better relation with the west in recent years but that could change soon.

[KhalsaWarrior]

says India.

Their current range before the missile test already covers Pakistan obviously, so thats out of question.

The only nation this missile test was directed at was China, and it was the start of an attempt to contain China's rise and ambition.

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-sho...a/20120423.htm

Can India actually contain China's rise? NO! China is ahead of China when it comes to military quantity and quality.

This test was purely defensive in nature. Kind of a "dont underestimate us" and take us lightly.

[badmash_khel]

Powerful India is good for Afghanistan and pashtuns in the short term to counter Chinese corporation with Pakistan. But Afghanistan must always has to be wary of Indian influence especially through their movies, music and other cultural avenues.