tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53093902670104575552011-07-07T15:44:06.111-07:00Sanskar Shrivastavanoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5309390267010457555.post-42452409242036916112009-09-23T03:16:00.000-07:002009-09-23T03:20:36.577-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DHCsxBZ3ojY/Srn2KrQDmtI/AAAAAAAAA8c/Eq-yZcuJ1Cg/s1600-h/harpoon+pakistan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DHCsxBZ3ojY/Srn2KrQDmtI/AAAAAAAAA8c/Eq-yZcuJ1Cg/s320/harpoon+pakistan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384605492767333074" border="0" /></a><br />A day after reports of the US conveying its displeasure over Pakistan’s illegal modification of the Harpoon missiles became public, India went on record to denounce the development as being against her interest.<br /><br />Outgoing Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, while handing over charge to the new incumbent Nirmal Verma on Monday, said, “This shows the danger of proliferation and we have been telling this from time to time. This has nothing to do with (Pakistan’s) self defence and it is against Indian interest.” Mehta, however, added, “The Harpoon cannot be changed too much and Pakistan will need some time to do the alteration on the missile to strike land targets.”<br /><br />Admiral Verma, who takes charge on Tuesday, said the Navy’s endeavour would be to ensure nobody came within striking distance of India and (prevent the) launch (of) such missiles. “Our endeavour during maritime operations is to ensure that no body comes within a (striking) distance and launches such missiles. We should have confidence in our Armed Forces. They are equipped, trained and have tactics to counter any threat. Threats will be there. We have to take care of them and counter them.”<br /><br />New Delhi viewed the development with concern and sources in the Defence Ministry said that officials are in touch with their counterparts in Washington to ascertain the facts in the matter.<br /><br />The changes to the Harpoon anti-ship missile, allegedly modified to extend its capability to strike land targets, would be a violation of the Arms Control Export Act in the United States.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5309390267010457555-4245240924203691611?l=liberalanalysts.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Sanskar Shrivastavanoreply@blogger.com0