The Defence Minister informed that the government has taken serious note of the inadvertent missile firing incident, and that “a formal high-level inquiry has been ordered, reports Asian Lite News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that a high-level probe has been ordered into the inadvertent firing of a missile that landed in Pakistan on March 9 saying that “if any lapses are found, action will be taken accordingly”.
Addressing Rajya Sabha, the minister informed that standard operating procedures (SOPs) for “operations, maintenance, and inspection” of such systems were being reviewed in the wake of the incident.
“I’d like to tell this House about an incident that occurred on 9th March 2022. It’s related to an accidental missile release during the inspection. During routine maintenance and inspection of the missile unit, around 7 pm, one missile got accidentally released. While this incident is regretted, we are relieved that nobody was hurt due to the accident,” the Defence Minister told Rajya Sabha.
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Singh sought to assure Parliament that the “Indian missile system is very reliable and safe” and that the “safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order”.
“I can assure the House that the missile system is very reliable and safe. Moreover, our safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order and are reviewed from time to time. Our Armed Forces are well-trained and disciplined and are well experienced in handling such systems,” Singh said in the Upper House of Parliament.
The Defence Minister informed that the government has taken serious note of the incident, and that “a formal high-level inquiry has been ordered”.
“The inquiry would determine the exact cause of the accident,” said Singh
“We attach the highest priority to the safety and security of our weapon systems. If any shortcoming is found, the same would be immediately rectified,” he said.
India on March 11 had said that a technical malfunction during routine maintenance had led to the accidental firing of a missile.
Pakistan Army had said that an Indian projectile had entered the Pakistani airspace and caused some damage to surrounding areas after it fell near a place called Mian Channu in their territory.
The Defence Ministry then said that it had ordered a court of enquiry into the incident adding that it was a matter of relief that there was no loss of life due to the accidental firing.
Pak speaks to UN chief
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and exchanged views with him on current regional and global issues, particularly the “blatant violation of Pakistan’s airspace by the ‘accidental’ firing of a missile by India on March 9”, Dawn news reported.
Qureshi briefed Guterres over the phone on the so-called ‘accidental’ fire of a missile that he said reflected India’s disregard for aviation safety as well as regional peace and stability.
Pakistan continued to act with restraint and responsibility, the Foreign Minister said.
Noting “multiple shortcomings and technical lapses of a serious nature in India’s management of strategic weapons”, Qureshi said the incident was consistent with New Delhi’s “irresponsible conduct” and needed to be addressed by the international community, including the UN Security Council, and underscored Islamabad’s demand for a joint probe into the incident, Dawn reported.
On the situation in Ukraine, Qureshi shared Pakistan’s perspective on the ongoing conflict, its adverse economic impact on developing countries, and Islamabad’s efforts in support of a solution through dialogue and diplomacy.
On his part, Guterres apprised the Foreign Minister of the recent initiatives being explored by the UN to address skyrocketing inflation worldwide in the wake of the situation in Ukraine.
ALSO READ: Pakistan takes up India’s missile misfire with UN Chief
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