NEW DELHI – At least three officers of the Indian air force were dismissedover March 9 misadventure when Indian supersonic missile crashed inPakistan’s territory.
Indian defence officials took action nearly six months after the incidentas Pakistan, along with other neighbours raised questions on New Delhi’scredibility, and safety of military command and control, as well as itsarsenal.
In a statement, the Indian air force said the three officers have been heldresponsible for the incident. Their services have been terminated by thecentral govt with immediate effect.
It further added that the Court of Inquiry into the incident found thatdeviation from the SOP by officers led to the accidental firing of themissile.
Meanwhile, there is no immediate reaction from Pakistan to the removal ofIndian officers from the service.
India earlier admitted firing missiles into archrival Pakistan, anuclear-armed neighbor, blaming the incident on a ‘technical malfunction’.
Soon after the incident, Pakistan warned India to be mindful of theunpleasant consequences of such negligence and to avoid a repeat.
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Pakistan also summoned India’s top diplomat about the incident and urgedNew Delhi to share the findings of its investigation into what happened.
The Indian diplomat conveyed that the imprudent launch of the flying objectnot only caused damage to civilian property but also put at risk humanlives on the ground.
Besides, the flight path of the flying object endangered severaldomestic/international flights within Pakistani airspace and could haveresulted in a serious aviation accident as well as civilian casualties.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar revealed thatthe flight path of the missiles endangered many national and internationalpassenger flights, as well as human life and property on the ground.
He said the projectile entered the Pakistani airspace and caused somedamage to surrounding areas after it fell near Mian Channu in Khanewaldistrict