Islamabad: Apr 07, 2022 (TNS): The unpredictability of events is a constant element in Indo-Pak relations mainly due to the war-mongering attitude of the Indian establishment. In every conflict that emerged between India-Pakistan since the Modi government stepped in, the Indian side has always been found as an aggressor. The main reason behind it is the Hindutva-driven ideology of BJP led Indian government. Nuclear weapons in hands of such a fanatic regime is danger to not only regional but also international peace and stability.
During a so called operational Inspection, an Indian BrahMos cruise missile inadvertently got fired & landed in Pakistani territory. During its course, the missile was at the height of 40,000 ft putting many international and domestic flights at severe risk. The missile failure could have triggered a nuclear strike as a response. The timing of the incident was extremely crucial owing to the Russia-Ukraine crisis having the potential of getting transformed into a nuclear war. Pakistan’s then Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: “The grave nature of the incident raises several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against the accidental or unauthorized launch of missile in a nuclearized environment.” He further asserted that: “India must provide a clearer picture of the circumstances that led to the missile’s firing.”
Pakistan raised questions about incompetent handling and safety protocols and asked for a joint probe to investigate the incident. Many national and international experts raised serious concerns over the errant missile crisis. Pravin Sawhney, an Indian defense analyst said: “In Pak, both ballistic (nukes) & cruise missiles (Babur with both warheads) are with the army. What is being used would not be known until it is fired since both sides do not have a missiles agreement. Why would Modi, even desperate to win elections, go the missile route?”. He further added: “Missile route is dangerous for India than Pakistan. India’s ballistic missiles (nukes) are with Strategic Forces Command, while cruise missiles (BrahMos) are with artillery division. Since referring to army missiles, Brahmos in Rajasthan is not unusual. Why would India fire BrahMos to operations/strategic depth when war not joined?”.
Reportedly, the Indian members of the parliament raised queries & asked for a government response on the alarming incident – bringing international embarrassment during the ongoing parliament session. Some of the queries raised were:
1. Does the Indian government have details on the nature of the technical malfunctioning that led to the Incident?
2. What protocol was followed by the Indian government to inform Pakistan?
3. Will the Indian government be paying compensation to Pakistan for the damage caused by the errant missile?
4. Did that missile travel very close to the route of international & domestic commercial airlines?
In order to avoid any further awkward situation, the Indian Ministry of Defense & External Affairs Ministry termed it a ‘technical failure’ and refrained from any further discussion in Lok and Rajya Sabha under the clause of classified matter, pertaining to National Security. A flawed inquiry was launched that put the whole blame on an Indian Air Force officer in its initial report. But there is an urgent need for a joint probe as demanded by Pakistan to investigate the matter for finding the actual facts and gross violations.
In the aftermath of the failure, Philippines, which is buying BrahMos missiles from India, reached out to India and have sought an explanation of what had happened. Manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace in India, the Philippines deal is worth nearly $375 million and is being touted as India’s first significant defense export. The export deal is now in trouble as the Defense Minister of the Philippines Delfin Lorenzana has inquired from the Indian Ambassador Shambhu S Kumaran about the failure. Indian ambassador avoided the questions by saying that an “inquiry was underway.”
Incompetent handling & Safety protocol associated with such sophisticated missile technology, risking the safety of domestic & international airlines, and pushing the matter under the carpet by Indian leadership was an irresponsible response to the issue. Such a careless attitude by the Indian establishment is not only dangerous for the country itself but also a major threat to regional stability. More over on March 13th, 2022,The Foreign Office (FO) also asked why India failed to inform Pakistan immediately about the ‘accidental launch’ of the missile and raised questions regarding the Indian safeguards against such happenings.
“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,” the FO said in a statement issued in response to Indian Defence Ministry’s explanation about the missile that struck a private property in Mian Channu on Wednesday evening after flying in from across the border.
India claimed that missile was ‘fired accidentally’ during a routine maintenance operation because of a technical malfunction and said a ‘high-level court of enquiry’ had been ordered into the incident.
Pakistani authorities do not trust the Indian version.
The FO believes “many loopholes and technical lapses” in Indian handling of strategic weapons led to the incident.
National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, while giving the government’s initial response to the Indian statement on Friday, too had looked skeptical. He had urged the international community to ascertain the veracity of the Indian account.
The FO also drew the world’s attention to the serious incident and emphasized its gravity saying a response based on a misinterpretation of the situation, especially in the nuclearised environment, could have been catastrophic.
“Given the short distances and response times, any misinterpretation by the other side could lead to counter measures in self-defence with grave consequences,” it said.
“Pakistan, therefore, calls upon the international community to take serious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearised environment and play its due role in promoting strategic stability in the region,” it added.
As Pakistan’s response to the incident has been widely praised, including by a number of Indians many of whom called it ‘mature’, the FO put seven questions to India related to the incident and security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorised launch of missiles.
The FO rejected the Indian statement as a ‘simplistic explanation’ and raised the following questions: “India must explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident.
“India needs to clearly explain the type and specifications of the missile that fell in Pakistani territory.
“India also needs to explain the flight path/ trajectory of the accidently launched missile and how it ultimately turned and entered into Pakistan?
“Was the missile equipped with self-destruct mechanism? Why did it fail to actualize?
“Are Indian missiles kept primed for launch even under routine maintenance?
“Why did India fail to immediately inform Pakistan about accidental launch of the missile and waited to acknowledge till after Pakistan announced the incident and sought clarification?
“Given the profound level of incompetence, India needs to explain if the missile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements?”
These observations and concerns were later conveyed to the Indian Charge d’ Affaires, who had been summoned to the FO. The Cd’A was asked to convey to the Indian government that such serious matters could not be addressed with simplistic explanations.
The Indian official was further told that Pakistan expected ‘satisfactory response to’ and ‘clarification on its queries’.Mean while The US State Department said on Saturday that it had seen no evidence to suggest that the landing of an unarmed supersonic Indian missile into Pakistan was not an accident.
“We have no indication that this incident was anything other than an accident,” a State Department spokesperson told Dawn when asked if the intrusion that happened on Wednesday could further strain already tense relations between India and Pakistan. “We refer you to the Indian Ministry of Defense for any follow-up to their statement on the matter.”
On Friday, India confirmed an “accidental firing of a missile” into Pakistan, calling it “deeply regrettable”.
Asked for further comments, the US spokesperson reproduced part of the Indian statement, saying: “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile.
“It is learnt 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.”
The US State Department “has no further comment on this event”, the official added.
