By IANS,
New Delhi : Pakistan’s test-firing an intermediate range nuclear-capable ballistic missile Wednesday, less than a week after India conducted its 5,000-km Agni-V test figured in a monthly security review Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony conducted with the three service chiefs later in the day.
Defence ministry sources said here that Antony had called the meeting to review the security situation within and around India, and Pakistan’s test of the Hatf-4 Shaheen-1A “found a mention” during the discussions.
Pakistan termed its missile test successful, but did not specify its range, though it is claimed to be an upgraded version of a 750-km range missile. India’s Agni-V on the other hand brings Beijing and Shanghai in China within its strike range.
The meeting, attended among others by Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne and Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma – also took stock of the security scenario in the wake of terror attacks in Afghanistan 10 days ago.
They also reviewed the situation along the border and line of control with Pakistan, when Antony asked the security forces to keep a vigil during the summer months when the infiltration bids go up.
The piracy troubles in the Gulf of Aden too came up for a review, when navy officers gave Antony a low down on the recent meeting of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Cape Town in South Africa, where the 35-nation grouping decided to evolve joint operating procedures to tackle the menace.