what's wrong with a little missile envy among friends AFP Photo
India not perturbed by Pakistan missile test
New Delhi (AFP) Oct 04, 2002 - India said Friday it was not perturbed by Pakistan's successful test firing of a medium range surface-to-surface Shaheen ballistic missile. "We are not unnecessarily perturbed by this kind of missile test," an Indian defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
Foreign affairs spokeswoman Nirupama Rao was equally dismissive.
"This particular test is clearly targeted at the forthcoming general election in Pakistan," she told reporters.
"As we have said before, we are not particulary impressed with these missile antics of Pakistan," Rao added.
"As is well known, Pakistan missiles are based on clandestinely imported materials, equipment and technology."
The missile test came amid renewed tension between Pakistan and India, which both have nuclear weapons, over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Pakistan said it had given prior notification of the test to neighbours as well as some friendly countries.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have been high since last December, when a deadly attack on India's parliament blamed on the Islamic militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad threatened to spark a new war.
Both groups were founded in Pakistan but were banned by President Pervez Musharraf in January.
Both countries have massed nearly a million troops on their common borders since the attack.
