ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Saturday saidthe grave nature of Indian accidental missile-firing had raised severalfundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguardsagainst the accidental or unauthorized launch of missiles in a nuclearizedenvironment.
“Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry is not sufficientsince the missile ended up in Pakistani territory. Pakistan demands a jointprobe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident,” thespokesperson said in a press release.
The spokesperson said that the whole incident of Indian missile-firingindicated many loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in itshandling of strategic weapons.
“Pakistan, therefore, calls upon the international community to takeserious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearizedenvironment and play its due role in promoting strategic stability in theregion,” the spokesperson said in a press release.
The spokesperson said that they had taken note of the press statement bythe Indian Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing regretting the“accidental firing” of the Indian origin missile into Pakistani territoryon March 9 due to “technical malfunction” and a decision to hold aninternal court of inquiry.
“Given the short distances and response times, any misinterpretation by theother side could lead to countermeasures in self-defence with graveconsequences.”
The spokesperson demanded an explanation from the Indian side over certainquestions arising out of the grave incident.
“Such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanationoffered by the Indian authorities. Some of the questions that need to beanswered include:
• India must explain the measures and procedures in place to preventaccidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of thisincident.
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• India needs to clearly explain the type and specifications of the missilethat fell in Pakistani territory.• India also needs to explain the flight path/ trajectory of theaccidentally launched missile and how it ultimately turned and enteredPakistan?
• Was the missile equipped with self-destruct mechanism? Why did it fail toactualize?
• Are Indian missiles kept primed for launch even under routine maintenance?
• Why did India fail to immediately inform Pakistan about the accidentallaunch of the missile and waited to acknowledge it till after Pakistanannounced the incident and sought clarification?
• Given the profound level of incompetence, India needs to explain if themissile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements?”
Indian defence ministry in a statement issued in New Delhi on Friday said,“On March 9, 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technicalmalfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile.”
The Indian defence ministry said, “The government of India has taken aserious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.”
