India successfully tested a long-range “Agni-5” nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, a government minister said, which is expected to strengthen its deterrent against China.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the missile was fired on Thursday from Abdul Kalam Island in the eastern state of Odisha.
“The missile will add great value to defense and strengthen national security to a greater extent,” Joshi tweeted, citing its range of 3,300 miles or more.
THE THREAT FROM CHINA MEANS THE US-INDIA PARTNERSHIP MUST GROW
Before the test, Indian authorities issued a notification and declared the Bay of Bengal a no-fly zone, Indian media reports said, adding that its range covers almost all of mainland China.
Fresh tensions have erupted between India and China following clashes between their army soldiers on December 9 along their disputed border in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said no Indian soldiers were seriously injured and troops from both sides withdrew from the area soon after. An Indian army statement on Monday said troops on both sides suffered minor injuries.
India successfully tested a nuclear-capable “Agni-5” ballistic missile on Thursday.
(Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images)
Rahul Bedi, a defense analyst, said this was the second user test conducted by India’s Strategic Forces Command since it was installed in 2018. The first test was carried out in 2021.
INDIA AND CHINA LAUNCH BLAME GAME AFTER CROSS-BORDER FIGHT LEAVES 20 DEAD
Bedi said Indian authorities were unaware of the reported presence of a Chinese spy ship in the region and continued testing.
India has developed a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles called “Agni”, which means “fire”. Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
For decades, India and China have fiercely contested the Line of Current Control, a loose demarcation separating Chinese and Indian controlled territories from Ladakh in the west to the eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its whole. India and China fought a border war in 1962.
