Mr Downer has told Southern Cross Radio he does not believe that the US would consider a pre-emptive strike on nuclear facilities within Pakistan.
Australia's disappointment about its missile testing
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has spoken to the Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf to express Australia's disappointment about its missile testing.
The United States Government says Pakistan has launched a surface-to-surface missile that has a has a range of 200 kilometres and can carry all types of warheads.
Last week, Pakistan tested a longer range version of its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile. It has a range of 700 kilometres.
Mr Downer says Australia will send a delegation to Washington to support any international response.
The Federal Government has also decided to further restrict travel to Australia by Pakistan.
"I told the Pakistani President that we condemn the testing of the missiles, that it did very much heighten concerns about security in South Asia," Mr Downer said.
Prime Minister John Howard says the missile testing is worrying, provocative and a breach of undertakings given by Pakistan.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd agrees with the Government that Australia is not likely to be a target.
"But anything that ... is a threat to good friends of Australia, like India, like Iran, that's a problem for us," he said.
Mr Downer has told Southern Cross Radio he does not believe that the US would consider a pre-emptive strike on nuclear facilities within Pakistan.
"What they'll tell you is that they never rule anything in or out - that's a standard American response to any of this speculative language, but I am very confident that they won't do that," he said.
"I think it's much more likely that they will take up this idea that they've been talking about anyway of going to the United Nations Security Council."
The UN Security Council will meet later tonight.
Mr Downer says he expects Pakistan to conduct more missile tests in coming days.
He has urged the US to use its influence with Pakistan.
"The US should continue to do everything they can," he said.
"Not only to stop the Pakistan from conducting further missile tests - and we think they probably do intend to launch more missile in the next day or two - but that the US should do everything they can to persuade Pakistan into negotiations."
Pakistan and India have routinely conducted missile tests since the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals carried out tit-for-tat nuclear detonations in May, 1998.
But in 2004, they launched a slow-moving peace process aimed at ending six decades of hostility and resolving their dispute over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars.
In February, Pakistan signed a historic deal with India to cut the risk of atomic weapons accidents.
SATIRE
Pakistan hails 'successful' missile test
Pakistan's military says it has successfully test-fired a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
The Army says the surface-to-surface missile has a range of 200 kilometres and can carry all types of warheads.
Last week, Pakistan tested a longer range version of its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile.
It has a range of 700 kilometres.
Pakistan and India have routinely conducted missile tests since the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals carried out tit-for-tat nuclear detonations in May, 1998.
But in 2004, they launched a slow-moving peace process aimed at ending six decades of hostility and resolving their dispute over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars.
In February, Pakistan signed a historic deal with India to cut the risk of atomic weapons accidents.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1886494.htm
Related:
Aust condemns N Korean missile tests
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has spoken to the North Korean Ambassador to express Australia's disappointment about its missile testing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1679601.htm
The United States Government says Pakistan has launched a surface-to-surface missile that has a has a range of 200 kilometres and can carry all types of warheads.
Last week, Pakistan tested a longer range version of its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile. It has a range of 700 kilometres.
Mr Downer says Australia will send a delegation to Washington to support any international response.
The Federal Government has also decided to further restrict travel to Australia by Pakistan.
"I told the Pakistani President that we condemn the testing of the missiles, that it did very much heighten concerns about security in South Asia," Mr Downer said.
Prime Minister John Howard says the missile testing is worrying, provocative and a breach of undertakings given by Pakistan.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd agrees with the Government that Australia is not likely to be a target.
"But anything that ... is a threat to good friends of Australia, like India, like Iran, that's a problem for us," he said.
Mr Downer has told Southern Cross Radio he does not believe that the US would consider a pre-emptive strike on nuclear facilities within Pakistan.
"What they'll tell you is that they never rule anything in or out - that's a standard American response to any of this speculative language, but I am very confident that they won't do that," he said.
"I think it's much more likely that they will take up this idea that they've been talking about anyway of going to the United Nations Security Council."
The UN Security Council will meet later tonight.
Mr Downer says he expects Pakistan to conduct more missile tests in coming days.
He has urged the US to use its influence with Pakistan.
"The US should continue to do everything they can," he said.
"Not only to stop the Pakistan from conducting further missile tests - and we think they probably do intend to launch more missile in the next day or two - but that the US should do everything they can to persuade Pakistan into negotiations."
Pakistan and India have routinely conducted missile tests since the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals carried out tit-for-tat nuclear detonations in May, 1998.
But in 2004, they launched a slow-moving peace process aimed at ending six decades of hostility and resolving their dispute over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars.
In February, Pakistan signed a historic deal with India to cut the risk of atomic weapons accidents.
SATIRE
Pakistan hails 'successful' missile test
Pakistan's military says it has successfully test-fired a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
The Army says the surface-to-surface missile has a range of 200 kilometres and can carry all types of warheads.
Last week, Pakistan tested a longer range version of its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile.
It has a range of 700 kilometres.
Pakistan and India have routinely conducted missile tests since the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals carried out tit-for-tat nuclear detonations in May, 1998.
But in 2004, they launched a slow-moving peace process aimed at ending six decades of hostility and resolving their dispute over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, the cause of two of their three wars.
In February, Pakistan signed a historic deal with India to cut the risk of atomic weapons accidents.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1886494.htm Related:
Aust condemns N Korean missile tests
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has spoken to the North Korean Ambassador to express Australia's disappointment about its missile testing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1679601.htm 
