Prevent Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space: Russia on A-SAT

India is the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire the capability to shoot down enemy satellites.

India is the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites.

(Photo: iStock/Altered by The Quint)

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 27 March, announced that India had managed to shoot down a low-orbit satellite using an A-SAT, Russia urged India to “prevent the deployment of weapons in outer space”, reported ANI.

Russia also slammed the US for weaponisation of outer space.

For all the live updates on Mission Shakti, click here.

Earlier, Pakistan and China had also responded to India’s anti-satellite weaponry testing saying the space should not be militarised.

Without naming India anywhere in a statement, as published on Reuters, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had said:

“Space is the common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarisation of this arena.”

China offered a more guarded response when questioned on India’s Mission Shakti. In a reply to PTI, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said:

“We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space”.

China conducted such a test in January 2007 when its anti-satellite missile destroyed a defunct weather satellite.

Pakistan Calls Out ‘Boasting’ of A-SAT Capabilities

Through its statement, Pakistan attempted to show it had a peaceful outlook.

“We hope that countries which have in the past strongly condemned demonstration of similar capabilities by others will be prepared to work towards developing international instruments to prevent military threats relating to outer space.”

Pakistan Foreign Ministry

To add a literary twist to its statement, the ministry gave a reference of Don Quixote, the delusional hero of the 17th century Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It said, “Boasting of such capabilities is reminiscent of Don Quixote’s tilting against windmills.”

US Takes Note of India's Anti-Missile Test, Expresses Concern Over Space

Meanwhile, the US official told PTI that it has taken note of India's anti-satellite missile test, adding it expresses concern over the issue of space debris.

Speaking to the news agency, the unnamed official said, “The state department saw PM Modi's statement that announced India's anti-satellite test.”

To a question, the spokesperson also added “as part of our strong strategic partnership with India, US will continue to pursue shared interests in space and scientific and technical cooperation, including collaboration on safety and security in space.”

On the issue of space debris, the spokesperson said:

“The issue of space debris is an important concern for the US government. We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.”

(With inputs from Reuters, NDTV, PTI , Reuters, ANI and Tass)