A day after Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar claimed that an Indian “high speed flying object” fell in Mian Channu located in Punjab province’s Khanewal district, the Indian Defense Ministry today provided a clarification saying it was “technical malfunction” which caused the “accident”.
Interacting with media on Thursday, Major Iftikhar had said: “On March 9, at 6.43 p.m, a high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).”
“It was a supersonic flying object, most probably a missile, but it was certainly unarmed.”
“From its initial course, the object suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan’s air space, ultimately falling near Mian Channu at 6.50 p.m.”
“When it fell, it damaged civilian properties,” he said, adding no loss of life was reported.
“PAF continuously monitored the complete flying path of the object, from its point of origin near Sirsa in India to its point of impact, near Mian Channu. It initiated requisite tactical actions.
“It is important to highlight that the flight path of this object endangered many international and domestic passenger flights — both in Indian and Pakistani air space — as well as human life and property on ground.
“Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain. It, nevertheless, shows their disregard for aviation safety and reflects very poorly on their technological prowess and procedural efficiency,” Dawn quoted the ISPR chief as saying.
He added that this could have resulted in a major aviation disaster.
“Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation and cautions against recurrence of any such incident in the future,” he warned.
Indian Defense Ministry, providing clarification on Friday, said in a statement: “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.”
“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 ministry further added.
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