January 31,1996. Copyright, 1996, Graphic News. All rights reserved

TENSIONS SKY ROCKET ON THE KASHMIRI BORDER
By Nicholas Booth

LONDON, January 31, Graphic News- Four days of skirmishes along the disputed Kashmir border between Pakistan and India have highlighted international concerns over missile proliferation. Last Friday, 19 Pakistanis were killed when rockets hit a mosque in Forward Kahuta, along the contested border with India. The Indian military authorities have denied responsibility but acknowledged that on Saturday they tested an advanced version of a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. 

Work began on the Prithvi (ÔEarthÕ) surface-to-surface missile in 1983. First test-fired in February 1988, by the start of 1995 it had been fired 13 times. It is understood that Saturday's firing involved the Ôlonger rangeÕ version of the missile, which has a range of 250 kilometres. This version is nine metres in length, weighs four tonnes and is capable of carrying a 500 kilogramme warhead. It is believed by western military analysts that 25 of the missiles were ordered by the Indian Defence Ministry in 1993. 
 
India and Pakistan have disputed the Kashmiri border since it was arbitrarily assigned after British rule ended in 1947. They have fought twice over the border and a State Department official in Washington  said over the weekend that skirmishes are a daily occurrence. Despite the escalation of tensions, however, both countries deny that they are close to war and Pakistani officials have said that they will not interfere with a pipeline planned to carry natural gas from Iran to India which would pass through their territory.

Sources: Jane's, Associated Press