India’s acquisition of new missile system criticised

We reiterate our commitment towards ensuring national defence in line with the policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence in the region.

Pakistan Foreign Office

islamabad — Pakistan has expressed concern over Indian acquisition of S-400 missile system from Russia and warned it would further destabilise strategic stability in South Asia and lead to a renewed arms race.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan had proposed a Strategic Restraint Regime in the region following the May 1998 nuclear tests by both sides and advocated against the acquisition of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) systems due to their destabilising effect. He said rejecting the proposal India was going ahead to build the BMD.

“Indian rejection of this proposal forced Pakistan to develop capabilities which render any BMD system ineffective and unreliable. Pakistan remains fully confident of its ability to address threats from any kind of destabilising weapon system,” the spokesman said.

“We reiterate our commitment towards ensuring national defence in line with the policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence and maintaining strategic balance in the region in the future as well,” the spokesman added. India earlier this month inked a $5.43 billion deal for five advanced S-400 Triumf surfaceto-air missile squad. The first deliveries were expected within two years.

According to news reports, the missile system being acquired by India is the latest long-range antiaircraft missile and is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets.

The system can hit aerodynamic targets at a range of up to 400km.

Such targets include cruise missiles, tactical and strategic aircraft as well as ballistic missile warheads. —