Mission Shakti: How US, China and Pakistan reacted to India's A-SAT achievement

"We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues", said US state department spokesperson.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 28 Mar 2019 06:44 PM (IST)

Mission Shakti: How US, China and Pakistan reacted to India's A-SAT achievement Mission Shakti: How US, China and Pakistan reacted to India's A-SAT achievement

Image: ANI

United States said that it will continue to pursue its shared interests with New Delhi in space and technical cooperation. At the same time, it expressed concerns over the issue of space debris.

Pakistan urged world to condemn India and said it was a strong proponent of the United Nations resolution on Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space.

China expressed hope that all countries will uphold peace and tranquillity in the outer space.

New Delhi: Responding to India’s space feat of successful demonstration of first anti-satellite missile capabilities, the United States said that it will continue to pursue its shared interests with New Delhi in space and technical cooperation. At the same time, it expressed concerns over the issue of space debris and commented “The issue of space debris is an important concern for the US government. We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.” A State Department spokesperson was quoted by PTI as saying: “Our strong strategic partnership with India, we will continue to pursue shared interests in space and scientific and technical cooperation, including collaboration on safety and security in space.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure there is no space debris. "Whatever debris that is generated will decay and fall back onto the earth within weeks," it said. Pakistan’s response An anxious Pakistan, which shares a tense relation with India post the Pulwama attack, seemed to play down India’s rare achievement which puts it in an exclusive club of space super powers. "Space is the common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarisation of this arena," Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said in a statement. He said Pakistan was a "strong proponent of the United Nations resolution on Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space". "Boasting of such capabilities (to destroy satellite) is reminiscent of Don Quixote's tilting against windmills," he said, describing India's test as like fighting imaginary enemies. In an attempt to call on the international community to condemn India, Faisal said: "We hope that countries which have in the past strongly condemned demonstration of similar capabilities by others will be prepared to work towards developing international instruments to prevent military threats relating to outer space." In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that India has no intention of entering into an arms race in outer space. China’s response: China on Wednesday reacted guardedly to India's anti-satellite missile test and expressed hope that all countries will uphold peace and tranquillity in the outer space. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in a written response to a question from news agency PTI on India successfully test-firing an anti-satellite missile, said: "We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space". China conducted such a test in January 2007 when its anti-satellite missile destroyed a defunct weather satellite. India 4th country to demonstrate A-SAT capabilities: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India successfully test-fired an anti-satellite missile by shooting down a live satellite. The test makes India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites. Mission Shakti, which was led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, was aimed at strengthening India's overall security, he said in his address that comes a fortnight before the start of the general election. (With inputs from PTI)

Published at : 28 Mar 2019 10:43 AM (IST)

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Mission Shakti Drdo Pakistan China US India