India's 'nuke' cruise missile test fails

This is one missile test failure that India could have done without, given the context of aggressive India-Pakistan posturing in the wake of November's terror attack on Mumbai. India's efforts this week to induct the radar-evading BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as a "precision strike weapon" failed, though initially declared as a success by the Defense Ministry.

Official sources have told Asia Times Online on the condition of anonymity that the latest test of the BrahMos was carried out under a new guidance system configured to carry a nuclear warhead instead of a conventional one, which is perhaps the likely cause for the test parameters not being met.

The BrahMos has been developed in collaboration with long-time defense partner Russia, a relationship that dates to the Cold War.

Some observers say that India could do better by dealing with countries such as the US, Israel and France as these countries possess state-of-the-art military technologies, rather than sticking with Russia, whose advanced military capabilities are now suspect.

Washington, as New Delhi's strategic ally in the region, has been looking to supply a quarter of India's military hardware over the next decade. Presently, the US lags behind Russia, Israel and France in supplying military hardware and software to India. While Russia clocks sales about US$1.5 billion to India every year, Israel notches annual sales of about $1 billion.

India's attempts to procure a nuclear submarine this year received a big setback this week when Russia "indefinitely" postponed delivery of the Akula-II class Nerpa nuclear submarine, saying that its sea trials were incomplete.

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Site older than Moenjodaro found in Sukkur

An archaeological site, about 5,500 years old, has been found in Lakhian Jo Daro near Goth Nihal Khoso in the district of Sukkur.The find is said to be of the era of Kot Diji. The remains are said to be older than those of Moenjodaro.

Mr Shar told Dawn that remains of a ‘faience’ mirror factory had been found at the project’s second block. It was believed to be of the era of mirror factories of Italy which dates back to some 9,000 years.He said a painting had also been found and discovery of more such items could establish the site as 9,000 years old, like the remains found at Mehar Garh in Balochistan and Jericho in Palestine.