Pakistan questions India’s handling of strategic weapons
Pakistan has demanded a joint probe into a missile India said it accidentally fired into its territory.
Pakistan rejected New Delhi’s decision to hold an internal inquiry into the incident and called on the international community to take note of reckless and irresponsible behavior by India.
“Such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistan demands a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident,” it added.
India said on Friday it had accidentally fired the missile into Pakistan this week because of a “technical malfunction” during routine maintenance, giving its version of events after Pakistan warned New Delhi of “unpleasant consequences.”
Indian handling of strategic weapons threatens region
Pakistan said that whole incident “indicates many loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in Indian handling of strategic weapons.” Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry “is not sufficient since the missile ended up in Pakistani territory” which demands a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Indian projectile landed in Pakistan
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar also shared details on the Indian projectile that fell in Mian Channu, Khanewal district four days ago. He asked India to immediately explain the incident. “It is for the Indians to explain. It, nevertheless, shows their disregard for aviation safety and reflects very poorly on their technological prowess and procedural efficiency,” he said, adding that this could have resulted in a major aviation disaster.
“On March 9, at 6:43pm, a high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). From its initial course, the object suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan’s air space, ultimately falling near Mian Channu at 6:50pm” Gen Iftikhar said.
Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia said that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) continuously monitored the complete flying path of the object, from its point of origin near Sirsa in India to its point of impact, near Mian Channu.
“If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers.” The projectile travelled 124 kilometres inside Pakistani territory in three minutes and 44 seconds, he added.
Pakistan demands answers from India
Pakistan foreign office said 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 has demanded India to respond to these conerns:
• India must explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident.
• India needs to clearly explain the type and specifications of the missile that fell in Pakistani territory.
• India also needs to explain the flight path/ trajectory of the accidently launched missile and how it ultimately turned and entered into Pakistan?
• 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?
• Why did India fail to immediately inform Pakistan about accidental launch of the missile and waited to acknowledge till after Pakistan announced the incident and sought clarification?
• Given the profound level of incompetence, India needs to explain if the missile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements?