India accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan on 9 March, Wednesday evening “during a routine maintenance”, as said by an army official. Technical errors where blame to be responsible for the incident and high-level enquiry has been courted to investigate the matter. Pakistan’s ministry condemned the incident and demanded for a joint investigation into the matter. Fortunately, civilian live well lost but the accident could have resulted in some unpleasant consequences and led to deterioration of relation between the two nuclear nations.
The super-sonic flying object originated from the North Indian city of Sisra. It travelled more than hundred kilometres into Pakistani airspace at an altitude of 40,000 feet at three times the speed of sound and hit the Pakistani ground near its eastern City of Milan Channu. Though there were no sensory military installations nearby, it crashed into a civilian area resulting in property damages. No detonation took place as it was not equipped with any warhead and did not cost any life. But the flying path of the missile endangered domestic and international flight in Pakistani air space and could have caused a serious aviation accident resulting in civilian casualties.
India ordered a high-level enquiry as there are several procedures involved before launching a missile. Following the incident, Pakistan has warned India to be “mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence and take effective measures to avoid the recurrence of such violations in future.” Deeply regretting the incident, the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement- “On 9 March 2020, 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 order a high-level court of enquiry.”
International relations professor Happymon Jacob took to his Twitter to say that both the nuclear States have the dealt with the situation very maturely and handled it well. However, such incidents, if happened further, can certainly draw bitter consequences.
