Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile

[Ram]

The obsession of the Pakis with India is un-effin believable. Within one week of our nuclear tests, they conduct theirs.. Within one week of our missile test, they conduct theirs. Is there anything that they do, which is independent of our actions?

[ganeshran]

This is just posturing by the Pakistani army to the domestic gallery. I dont see why its so surprising that Pakistan did it days after India even though there is no real comparison between the missiles that we tested and what they did. The entire military doctrine of the Pakistan army is based around India and the percieved threat that India poses to their country. Its their raison d'etre and the reason why the army has been able to corner the lion's share of resources in a developing nation. The desperate attempts to portray a semblance of equality between the military prowess of the two nations is a part of that very doctrine which cannot tolerate a position of weakness against the primary foe.

[Desi Cartman]

It's just a short-medium range missile 750km or so.

It doesnt matter how far it can go but what Im confused about is, how can Pakistani scientists organize "tests" of this scale within days of India conducting a test. Usually scientists need months of preparation to conduct these tests

[panther]

It doesnt matter how far it can go but what Im confused about is' date=' how can Pakistani scientists organize "tests" of this scale within days of India conducting a test. Usually scientists need months of preparation to conduct these tests[/quote'] I have no idea

[ganeshran]

Very unfortunate to see that Pakistan is test firing nuclear missiles when their airlines don't even have proper aircrafts to fly. If some of the money they have spent on this nuclear capable missile was spent on ensuring safer airplanes for their citizens' date=' those 126 people would have been alive today.[/quote'] You are comparing apples and oranges. The aircraft was a private entity which flew old planes to cut corners. Even if the Pakistan army took up less budget, that money wouldnt have been diverted to improving maintenance of the civilian planes.

[jairamesh]

You are comparing apples and oranges. The aircraft was a private entity which flew old planes to cut corners. Even if the Pakistan army took up less budget, that money wouldnt have been diverted to improving maintenance of the civilian planes.

Aren't safety regulators who decide if planes are safe to fly public bodies?

[ganeshran]

Aren't safety regulators who decide if planes are safe to fly public bodies?

They were probably bought off. The point I made was that money saved from missile tests would not necessarily improve the safety of civilian airlines. If anything they could use it for sectors like infrastructure or education. However a powerful military taking part in an arms race with India is strategically beneficial to us in the long term as instability in power structure affects decision making in all spheres. If anything India should undertake more marquee launches that encourage Pakistan to keep playing catch up and pumping in more money into its defense program. Its extremely important that the Pakistan army maintain its perception of an existential threat from India.

[DomainK]

You are comparing apples and oranges. The aircraft was a private entity which flew old planes to cut corners. Even if the Pakistan army took up less budget, that money wouldnt have been diverted to improving maintenance of the civilian planes.

You missed the point totally. If someone had been watching, that would not have happened and if the system was in place, someone would definitely have been watching. The fact remains that in spite of the obscene amount of money Pakistan is spending on defense, supposedly to keep it's citizens safe, they are dying of plane crashes, bomb blasts, natural calamities and sheer lack of basic needs and facilities. It's like a father buying fire arms to be able to protect his starving kid.

[ViruRulez]

Honestly speaking, I would hope that no nuclear missile is ever used by any country in the world. A single nuclear missile might result in a dangerous nuclear war around the world that might end this planet. No matter how small or big the range is but even a single missile started might result in a major war in the volatile world especially with power centers everywhere nowadays (viz. China, US, India, UK, France, Japan, Germany, Arab World, Israel, Russia, Brazil etc. and what not). I would have instead liked to see a nuclear free world instead. Nuclear missiles might lead to human extinction one day if not utilized properly. Not to mention all countries are nowadays either ruled by lobbyists or dictators or communists who can go to any extent for some short term gains which might result in long term disaster for humanity as a whole.

[deathmonger]

Honestly speaking' date=' I would hope that no nuclear missile is ever used by any country in the world. A single nuclear missile might result in a dangerous nuclear war around the world that might end this planet. No matter how small or big the range is but even a single missile started might result in a major war in the volatile world especially with power centers everywhere nowadays (viz. China, US, India, UK, France, Japan, Germany, Arab World, Israel, Russia, Brazil etc. and what not). I would have instead liked to see a nuclear free world instead. Nuclear missiles might lead to human extinction one day if not utilized properly. Not to mention all countries are nowadays either ruled by lobbyists or dictators or communists who can go to any extent for some short term gains which might result in long term disaster for humanity as a whole.[/quote'] playing fallout?

[ganeshran]

You missed the point totally. If someone had been watching' date=' that would not have happened and if the system was in place, someone would definitely have been watching. The fact remains that in spite of the obscene amount of money Pakistan is spending on defense, supposedly to keep it's citizens safe, they are dying of plane crashes, bomb blasts, natural calamities and sheer lack of basic needs and facilities. It's like a father buying fire arms to be able to protect his starving kid.[/quote'] The air crash didnt happen because someone was not watching. It was not because of a paucity of funds in regulating the civilian air sector. Rather it was because of the greed of certain individuals of the system who accepted bribes to clear substandard planes. Even if they had spent much more money on regulating the airlines, it was always susceptible to the people in charge taking bribes. The arugment would be right had it been made for Pakistan spending money on education or health, but not when made in connection to the air crash last week

[asterix]

^ Agree.. Also, major blame was on the ATC. The Weather department had warned ATC twice about the weather and the plane shouldn't've been allowed to land and should've been diverted to Lahore. Not saying that the plane was old but the ATC usually has all the details of the Aircraft and can easily ascertain it's capacity to withstand difficult weather situations.

[Jersey #10]

I don't know why rest of the world is not scared of Pakistan having nukes while Iran is a big deal. I feel like Paksitan is a bigger threat to the western world than any of the middle eastern countries. This was a short range missile, nothing to worry about.

[jairamesh]

I don't know why rest of the world is not scared of Pakistan having nukes while Iran is a big deal. I feel like Paksitan is a bigger threat to the western world than any of the middle eastern countries. This was a short range missile' date=' nothing to worry about.[/quote'] Iran has oil. Pakistan has jack sh!te to give to the world, hence even if they used their missiles say on Israel, the likes of US and NATO won't hesitate to wipe Pakistan off the map. Unless of course if Pakistan attack India then response from international community will be muted.