Veiled warning: India shows off new missile

President Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan that New Delhi’s hand of friendship should “not be taken for granted”.

NEW DELHI: India wheeled out a new long-range nuclear missile on Saturday that can allegedly hit anywhere in China and warned Pakistan not to take its friendship “for granted” as it celebrated its Republic Day with a big parade. 

On the eve of India’s Republic Day, President Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan in his annual nationwide televised address that New Delhi’s hand of friendship should “not be taken for granted”.

His speech, aired again on Saturday, came amid a ceasefire which took hold last week in disputed Kashmir after the nations agreed to halt violation of a ceasefire that has threatened to unravel a fragile peace process.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2013.