Photo: AFP
A “technical malfunction” during routine maintenance caused a missile from India to accidentally fire into Pakistan on Wednesday, according to Indian officials.
Delhi expressed relief that no one was killed and said the incident was “deeply regrettable.”
However, Pakistan’s military said that the flight path of the “high-speed flying object” that crashed near the city of Mian Channu had endangered passenger flights.
Both India and Pakistan are in possession of nuclear weapons.
India’s defense ministry released a statement stating: “On 9 March 2022, in the course of 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.”
Islamabad cautioned Delhi to “be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence” and avoid repeating a similar incident. Islamabad added that the missile had been launched from Sirsa in Haryana state.
The missile was recorded to have traveled at Mach 3, which is three times the speed of sound. It was set at an altitude of 12,000m (40,000ft) and flew 124km (77 miles) into Pakistani airspace before it crashed.
“The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace, as well as human life and property of ground,” said Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday.
On Friday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had complained to India’s chargé d’affaires about the incident.
Pakistan also urged India to share the findings of its investigation into the incident.
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