India refuses to comment on Indonesian protest against Agni launch

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) India today refused to comment on the purported protest by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry on the launch of the Agni III missile, asserting all the necessary safeguards were taken.

''If you are referring to the stories that have appeared and the statement, the position is that India's missile testing programme has always followed the requisite safety precautions'', an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said a notice was sent by the Civil Aviation Ministry to ATC Jakarta and other ATCs in the region informing Indonesian authorities about the launch window dates, danger time, zone and height a week before the test was conducted.

'' The ATCs were requested to take action to issue the NOTAM which is the Notice to Aviators and Mariners, in accordance with relevant ICAO provisions'' the spokesperson added.

India successfully tested its longest-range ballistic missile, the Agni III yesterday.

Reports today cited an Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman as saying two Garuda Indonesia flights heading to Saudi Arabia had to divert course and return to Jakarta due to the missile test.

India's ambassador to Indonesia would be called in to explain the incident, foreign ministry spokesman Kristianto Legowo told a news briefing in Jakarta.

UNI