Pakistan Seeks Joint Probe in Accidental Misfiring of Indian Missile
NEW DELHI, March 12: Seizing the opportunity to take an upper hand after India expressed regrets at accidental misfiring of a missile due to “technical malfunction” that landed in Pakistani territory, Pakistan has called it “a profound level of incompetence” on the part of the Indian authorities and sought a joint probe into the incident.
Claiming that the incident had raised “serious issues” Pakistan has also called upon the international community to take serious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearised environment and play its due role in promoting strategic stability in the region.”
A day after India acknowledged that “a technical malfunction led to the accidental misfiring of the missile,” Pakistan foreign ministry on Saturday said “such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities.”
Stating that the “grave nature of the incident” raises several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorized launch of missiles in a nuclearized environment,” Pakistan asserted that “Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry is not sufficient since the missile ended up in Pakistani territory,” and demanded a joint probe to establish the facts.
The Indian Ministry of Defence on Friday gave information about the landing of the missile in the Pakistani territory and had also expressed “relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident” and said a Court of Inquiry had been ordered.
The Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press release on Saturday said: “We have taken note of the Press Statement by the Indian Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing regretting the ‘accidental firing’ of the Indian origin missile into Pakistani territory on 9 March 2022 due to “technical malfunction” and decision to hold an internal Court of Inquiry.”
But it said, “such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities.” And called upon the Indian government to explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident.
Raising several questions, the Pakistan foreign ministry sought a clear explanation on the type and specifications of the missile that fell in its territory, as well as the flight path/trajectory of the missile. “Was the missile equipped with self-destruct mechanism? Why did it fail to actualize? Are Indian missiles kept primed for launch even under routine maintenance?” it asked.
It further questioned why India “failed to immediately inform Pakistan about accidental launch of the missile and waited to acknowledge till after Pakistan announced the incident and sought clarification.”
Terming it as a “profound level of incompetence”, it called upon New Delhi to explain “if the missile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements.” “The whole incident indicates many loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in Indian handling of strategic weapons,” it noted.
“Given the short distances and response times, any misinterpretation by the other side could lead to counter measures in self-defence with grave consequences. Pakistan, therefore, calls upon the international community to take serious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearised environment and play its due role in promoting strategic stability in the region,” the ministry said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
