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India’s Agni-5 Missile, displayed during a rehearsal in 2013 for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. PHOTO: AFP

Islamabad has accused New Delhi of failing to comply fully with the agreement on advance notification of ballistic missile tests following India’s successful test flight of a domestically developed missile capable of carrying multiple warheads.

Under the agreement, Pakistan and India are required to share advance notice for any testing. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, speaking at the weekly briefing, stated that Pakistan had taken note of India’s missile test on March 11th.

While India did share advance notification, it did not follow the 3-day timeline prescribed in Article 2 of the Agreement on Pre-notification of the Fight Testing of Ballistic Missiles. Baloch stressed the need for compliance with the agreement “in letter and spirit.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India had successfully conducted its first test flight of a domestically developed missile capable of carrying multiple warheads.

The missile is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. India has been developing its medium-range and long-range missile systems since the 1990s.

In 2021, India successfully tested Agni-5, a nuclear-capable Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of 5,000 kilometres (3,125 miles). It is believed to be capable of targeting nearly all of China. Agni missiles are long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.

India is also capable of striking anywhere in neighbouring Pakistan, with which it has fought three wars since gaining independence from British colonisers in 1947.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office Spokesperson expressed concern over the Indian government’s implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019.

Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a resolution in December 2019 criticising the law, calling it discriminatory and against international norms of equality and non-discrimination, as well as international human rights law.

The spokesperson stated that the regulations and laws are based on a false assumption that minorities are being persecuted in Muslim countries of the region, and that India is a safe haven for minorities. She added that the rising wave of Hindutva under the BJP government has led to the victimisation of Muslims and other religious and social minorities.

Pakistan urges India to protect its own minorities, especially Muslims, who are facing difficulties due to the rising Hindutva and the threat it poses to Indian society and the region as a whole.

In response to another question, the spokesperson acknowledged that Pakistan is aware of the upcoming hearing of the US subcommittee on Pakistan elections.

Pakistan values its close relationship with the United States and believes in constructive engagement on all matters. The country hopes that the deliberations of the US Congress will contribute to positive dynamics in bilateral ties based on mutual respect and understanding. Pakistan also hopes for the continuation of a supportive role from the US Congress in strengthening Pakistan-US ties.

Source: [Tribune](https://tribune.com.pk)