India’s Agni 5 missile reclassification escalates regional, global security risks
Islamabad: India’s recent reclassification of its Agni 5 missile from an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) to an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) represents a strategic maneuver with significant implications for regional and global security.
According to Kashmir Media Service, India has quietly reclassified its Agni-V missile from an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) to an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) which isn’t just a technical tweak but carries major strategic & diplomatic signals.
By downgrading the Agni 5’s status from an ICBM to an IRBM, India effectively exploits the ambiguity in international missile classifications. Officially, India claims the missile has a range of about 5,500 km on paper, yet many Indian media outlets including Telegraph India and Swarajya has claimed this range to 8,000 km.
This discrepancy appears to be a deliberate tactic to mislead both regional adversaries and the international community, projecting a more formidable strategic capability while avoiding heightened global alarm. This dual messaging tactic helps India dodge intense scrutiny from Western capitals and multilateral security forums that might otherwise consider it a global nuclear threat.
