Pakistan on Saturday said it was not satisfied with India's "simplistic explanation" on the "accidental firing" of a missile that landed in Pakistan's Punjab province and demanded a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said the country has taken note of the statement by India's Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing regretting the “accidental firing” of the Indian-origin missile into Pakistani territory on March 9 due to “technical malfunction” and the decision to hold a high-level Court of Inquiry. The foreign office said that the incident raises several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorised missile launch in a nuclearised environment.
“Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry is not sufficient since the missile ended up in Pakistani territory. Pakistan demands a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident,” it said. “India must explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident,” the Pakistan FO said, adding that India must clearly explain the type and specifications of the missile that fell in Pakistani territory.
On Thursday, the Pakistan Pakistan Air Force had claimed that India launched a surface-to-surface missile from Sirsa. The missile was intended for Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan but travelled more than 100km into Pakistan and landed in Mian Channu in Pakistan Punjab. The ministry of defence stated that in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile.
"The government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of enquiry," MoD said in a statement, admitting that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. "While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident."
Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistani Armed Forces, had said at 18:43 hours on March 9, “a high-speed flying object was picked up inside Indian flying territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistani Air Force. From its initial course, the object suddenly maneuvered towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan’s airspace ultimately falling near Mia Channu.”
