Time for a New Strategy for India

Abstract

On April 11, 1999 India conducted a test launch of its Agni II Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Last tested in 1994, this nuclear capable missile has a range in excess of 1,240 miles and can reach targets in both Pakistan and China When asked about possible negative international political fallout, India's Defense Minister stated "India will not compromise its national security with anyone We don't need to be told by anybody about restraint" This defiant stance comes on the heel of India's May 1998 underground nuclear tests that resulted in global condemnation and sanctions by the U S and 14 other countries When one considers that the dominate emphasis of U S strategy in the region is the prevention of nuclear proliferation and development of ballistic missiles and looks at the scorecard of India's actions over the past 11 months, it appears the strategy is failing It is the thesis of this paper that a U S strategy with India which focuses primarily on the nuclear proliferation issue via a series of treaties and legislative actions, is ineffective is influencing India's nuclear actions and damages possible progress in other U S areas of interests.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA442446

Entities

People

  • George N. Earnhart

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Asia
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Commerce
  • Department Of State
  • Explosive Devices
  • Governments
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Law
  • Materials
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Proliferation
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • South Asia
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.