Pakistan rejects Indian missile probe, reiterates joint investigation

[Lonewarrior]

Errant Indian Missile Nearly Led to Pakistan Retaliatory Strike

An accidental missile fired by India last week prompted Pakistan to prepare a retaliatory strike, people familiar with the matter said, showing how close the nuclear-armed neighbors came to blows over a potentially disastrous mistake.

Pakistan had prepared to launch a similar missile to strike India but held back because an initial assessment indicated something was amiss, people familiar with the matter said. The Indian missile ended up damaging some residential property but caused no casualties.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-15/errant-indian-missile-nearly-led-to-pakistan-retaliatory-strike

 

[Lego20]

and we dont need one, you are welcome to test again, but this time try to send dozens of brahmos (nuclear warhead) not one, or else get ready to have Retaliatory Strike ..... read the above post .....

Does not corroborate with the helter skelter appeals to international community. They need one, want one.

Brahmos is not nuclear capable (against the general perception).

My take: This seems like a an unintentional firing: accidental or rogue or hacked. Regardless, reflects really bad on IAF (this was an IAF brahmos). Indian govt rightly so, regretted the incident. Pakistan armed forced reacted with a lot of maturity and calmness.

 

[Lonewarrior]

Lol threatening about a thought of a retaliatory strike. I notice you have this taste of bravado and war mongering. Have you ever been in a physical tussle even in school?

got bullet during my duty ..... and dont ask what happend to the person who shot me ...... thats all i can say .....

btw, i am not a war monger .... war is bad for humanity ..... but some people take it as weakness ..... one should always know the strength of ther enemey .....

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Does not corroborate with the helter skelter appeals to international community. They need one, want one.

Brahmos is not nuclear capable (against the general perception).

My take: This seems like a an unintentional firing: accidental or rogue or hacked. Regardless, reflects really bad on IAF (this was an IAF brahmos). Indian govt rightly so, regretted the incident. Pakistan armed forced reacted with a lot of maturity and calmness.

Do you mean Hindutva terrorists inside Indian army who almost started a nuclear conflict?

Also, the West (AUKUS) want India to get into a conflict with China. But Indian establishment is too smart for getting itself used as Pak establishment has done over the decades.

 

[Lego20]

Do you mean Hindutva terrorists inside Indian army who almost started a nuclear conflict?

Yes - have fun. See if that flies!

On topic, rogue could be anything - disgruntled soldier or mole or unruly war monger.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Yes - have fun. See if that flies!

On topic, rogue could be anything - disgruntled soldier or mole or unruly war monger.

24/7 365 kinda manipulation can drive anyone to an extremist level.

Heck, there was an 'incel' dude who ended up killing dozens in Canada of all places. He was infected by r/incel subreddit.

The paranoia that Indian news channels push will start a war.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairperson Sherry Rehman termed the launch of an Indian missile into Pakistan a potential trigger point for multiple crises, while expressing concerns over the matter during the committee's meeting on Wednesday.

Rehman, who is also a parliamentary leader of PPP in the Senate, reviewed the Indian projectile crash in Pakistani territory and Prime Minister Imran Khan's Moscow tour follow-up in the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs session held at the Parliament House.

During the meeting, Rehman expressed intention to call officials of the Air Defence Command and Strategic Plans Division in the next meeting of the committee and sought an in-camera briefing on the matter.

"Indian missile crash was an extremely dangerous indicator of multiple crises that could have been precipitated," the Senator said.

Related items
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Indian projectile enters Pakistani airspace: DG ISPR
She said an escalation of hostilities between two powerful, nuclearised countries must be avoided at all costs, especially in the absence of a framework for scaling down.

“There is no current example in the world of such a risk-laden environment where two nuclear powers who have had four wars between them are also direct neighbours."

She said it is because of our turbulent history that the severity of this so-called "mistake" cannot go unnoticed by Pakistan and the international community.

“It is of paramount importance to note that this ‘technical glitch’ did not occur in disputed territory, rather 500km from Islamabad in Mian Channu,” she said.

The senator said there are a series of procedures in place for testing, even if we are to accept this weak explanation that it was a missile that went off its charted course, why did it not self-destruct.

She said the incident calls into question why India, could let a mishap of such enormous magnitude “slip” through during a "routine check".

Briefing the committee on the issue, Secretary Foreign Affairs Sohail Mehmood apprised it of Pakistan's strong protest at this flagrant violation by summoning India charge D'affaires and handing over the questions seeking explanation and being cautioned against the recurrence of any such incident in the future. “Pakistan demands a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident,” he added.

On Russia-Ukraine war, she questioned “efforts taken by Pakistan to ensure the safe and secure return of its citizens with particular focus on students and the impact of Pakistan’s exposure.”

Sohail Mehmood informed the committee that the Prime Minister's visit to Russia was planned two years ago. Last year, the prime minister was twice invited to visit Russia but was unable to do so because of the corona epidemic, he added

“Several heads of state visited Russia and it was thought that there would be no war, but unfortunately, it happened during the visit. The prime minister, during his visit, called for resolving the issue through dialogue in a peaceful manner,” the foreign secretary maintained.

To the question about the stranded Pakistanis in Ukraine, Sohail Mehmood said as many as 1,558 people were evacuated from Ukraine so far, and Pakistani students were evacuated from Ukraine via Poland. There are currently 15 to 20 Pakistanis in detention centres who do not want to be repatriated to Pakistan.

GEO

 

[Itachi]

Looks like it's Pakistan who is busy in damage repairing mode lol.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Hearing videos on YouTube saying Indians fired the missile on purpose to test the Chinese missile defence shield deployed by PAK. The outcome is that the missile went untouched 124kms into Pak territory, phillipines must be happy and be ready to buy more Brahmos now that the missile has proven itself

 

[Poseidon]

Hearing videos on YouTube saying Indians fired the missile on purpose to test the Chinese missile defence shield deployed by PAK. The outcome is that the missile went untouched 124kms into Pak territory, phillipines must be happy and be ready to buy more Brahmos now that the missile has proven itself ��

if youtubers are the fact finders then indian govt should apologize with some random youtube channel, and not doing it officially. )

 

[Kroll]

if youtubers are the fact finders then indian govt should apologize with some random youtube channel, and not doing it officially. )

LMAO, hear hear, I need to get myself on TikTok and Snapchat for official defence news, lol.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

In retaliation to India’s Accidentally Fired Missile, Pakistan Fires Missile that lands In Pakistan.

Pakistan fires missile from Sindh and lands in Sindh ))

 

[Local.Dada]

In retaliation to India’s Accidentally Fired Missile, Pakistan Fires Missile that lands In Pakistan.

Pakistan fires missile from Sindh and lands in Sindh ))

Lol. That’s a little scary though. India said it was an accident but this is clearly deliberate from Pakistan. Isn’t this needling India?

I don’t want some guy to go rogue and do something stupid and start a nuclear holocaust type scenario. This unpredictability has always been the scary part about Pakistan.

Someone needs to put a stop to this show of pointless bravado that can do damage.

 

[Poseidon]

In retaliation to India’s Accidentally Fired Missile, Pakistan Fires Missile that lands In Pakistan.

Pakistan fires missile from Sindh and lands in Sindh ))

[MENTION=151383]Local.Dada[/MENTION]

source ?

 

[Kroll]

[MENTION=151383]Local.Dada[/MENTION]

source ?

Various garbage Indian media (as expected).

They may have fired a test missile or other projectile, but they were never going to fire it at India.

 

[LaLoco]

Lol. That’s a little scary though. India said it was an accident but this is clearly deliberate from Pakistan. Isn’t this needling India?

I don’t want some guy to go rogue and do something stupid and start a nuclear holocaust type scenario. This unpredictability has always been the scary part about Pakistan.

Someone needs to put a stop to this show of pointless bravado that can do damage.

Last time when an Indian PM went rogue while hoping the cloud and rain will stop Pakistani radar from detecting Indian jets the Pakistani had to pay for a cup of tea, not that we mind, we are famous for hospitality, while some Indian families were made to never see their love ones by Indian army incapability and malfunctioning equipment.

So you are absolutely correct, someone need to put a stop to this show of pointless bravado that can do damage and is doing damage to Indians

product of propagandist Indian media.

 

[Firebat]

In retaliation to India’s Accidentally Fired Missile, Pakistan Fires Missile that lands In Pakistan.

Pakistan fires missile from Sindh and lands in Sindh ))

Reminds me of a headline that I saw from a satirical news website...

https://thefauxy.com/in-retaliation...ile-pakistan-fires-missile-lands-in-pakistan/

Perhaps that's where you got such "information" from

 

[MenInG]

A missile that was "accidentally" launched out of India last week fired into the flight path of dozens of commercial jets flying in the region at the same time, Bloomberg reported.

The report stated that several planes passed through the direct trajectory of the missile on March 9, which flew from the Indian garrison town of Ambala and ended up in Mian Channu in Punjab.

"They included a Flydubai jet heading to Dubai from Sialkot, an IndiGo plane going from Srinagar to Mumbai and an Airblue Ltd. flight from Lahore to Riyadh. All crossed the missile’s trajectory within an hour of its accidental launch," the report quoted data from flight-tracking application Flightradar24.

Other international flights in the vicinity of the missile’s trajectory -- and within its range -- included a Kuwait Airways Co. jet heading to Guangzhou, China from Kuwait City, a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight to Riyadh from New Delhi, and a Qatar Airways service from Kathmandu to Doha, the data showed.

No advisory to pilots operating in the vicinity -- known as a notice to airmen or NOTAM -- was issued.

A time-lapse video of the airspace -- prepared by Flightradar24 by request of Bloomberg News -- showed busy activity in the skies within an hour and half of both sides of 7pm local time on March 9, which India said was the approximate time of the accidental launch.

India’s “robust” missiles handling procedures are being reviewed and will be strengthened further, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers earlier this week.

“Very unfortunate. It could have led to a disaster, what if it hit a Pakistan International aircraft?” said Mark Martin, founder of Dubai-based Martin Consulting.

“The bigger concern is what if it was taken as a hostile action by Pakistan? We can’t brush it under the carpet, those accountable must be held accountable. This could have escalated into a full-blown conflict.”

The report stated that the averted disaster is reminiscent of the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, when a missile owned by a Russia-based military unit hit the plane over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. In 2020, Iran unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet it mistook for a cruise missile, killing 176.

The Indian mishap last week had the potential of turning deadly, with Pakistan preparing to launch a similar missile to strike India, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week. It eventually held fire after an initial assessment indicated something was amiss.

The flight path of the missile -- which Pakistan continuously monitored from near the point of its origin in Sirsa in India -- endangered many international and domestic passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace and could have resulted in a “major aviation disaster,” DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar told reporters in Rawalpindi on March 10.

The missile flew at an altitude of 40,000 feet and an ultimate speed of mach 3 (2,300 miles) an hour, Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia said in the same briefing. Modern commercial jets tend to cruise below and around that altitude, the report further said.

 

[James]

Another busy thread.

A few bullet points from me.

This story is constantly developing, and quite a few different posts above have been linking to various websites and unverified social media feeds for updates.

Over the last few days, myself and my colleagues have had to delete a number of these posts in line with our forum policies.

Wherever possible, when reporting news if we could please ask that you link through to websites of reputable news outlets, or alternatively when referencing social media try to use “verified” Twitter, Facebook, etc accounts (with the “blue tick”).

Thanks

 

[Major]

There have been a fire in sialkots missile depot. Our armed forces acting weird now..

 

[Lonewarrior]

There have been a fire in sialkots missile depot. Our armed forces acting weird now..

thres no missile depot, dont fall for indian fake news factory, they claim everything on twitter.

heres the official statement. a short circuit incident.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Accidental fire broke out in ammunition shed near Sialkot Garrison, effective and timely response contained damages and fire has been extinguished<a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialDGISPR</a> <a href="https://t.co/IDFGQ1Hfx5">https://t.co/IDFGQ1Hfx5</a></p>— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1505456913156292613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said on Thursday that the world was "beginning to recognise Pakistan's long-standing concern" about India's nuclear capabilities, expressing the hope that the Islamabad Declaration adopted at the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad would lead to growing calls for India's accountability.

In a series of tweets, he said participants at the summit "highlighted threats to the regional security" following a missile launch by India inside Pakistan, which the neighbouring country claimed had been "accidental".

Yusuf said he hoped that the Islamabad Declaration would lead to an increase in global calls for New Delhi's accountability and the launch of a transparent and joint investigation into the incident.

A day earlier, foreign dignitaries attending the 48th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad had expressed concern over an Indian missile striking a building in Pakistani territory on March 9 and put their weight behind Islamabad's demand for a joint probe to accurately establish facts.

The incident first came to light after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major Gen Babar Iftikhar shared details on March 10 of what he described as a "high-speed flying object", which was fired from Indian territory.

The DG ISPR had told media persons that the object, which was unarmed and probably a missile, had fallen in the Mian Channu area of Punjab's Khanewal district.

Gen Iftikhar had called the airspace intrusion a "flagrant violation" and demanded an explanation from India.

A day later, New Delhi had confirmed that a missile had been launched across the border into Pakistan, expressing regret over the incident and attributing the "accidental" fire to a "technical malfunction".

Islamabad, however, has maintained that this explanation is "simplistic" and fails to answer multiple questions in relevance to the incident.

While India says an inquiry has been launched into the matter, Pakistan has repeatedly insisted on a joint probe to establish facts surrounding the incident.

In his tweets today, the national security adviser said that foreign ministers at the OIC moot, too, had underscored the "threat to the region's security due to India's recent missile launch into Pakistan".

"Make no mistake, India has become an irresponsible state with nuclear weapons and the world is beginning to recognise Pakistan’s longstanding concern on this count," he said, adding that naturally, countries "reportedly looking to buy Indian missiles and other equipment are having second thoughts".

Yusuf emphasised that the "missile 'misfire' from India must remain an issue of international concern".

"Indian attempts to brush it off cannot mask the gravity of the episode," he said, dubbing the "lack of Indian response to Pakistan's call for joint investigation and lack of Indian information about India's so-called internal inquiry" a "wakeup call" for the international community.

"This reflects the mindset of the [Narendra] Modi regime and the character of the Indian state today," he added.

Yusuf further said that Pakistan would "continue to sensitise international opinion on the dangers of India's nuclear programme and will continue efforts to ensure strategic stability while defeating aggression at all costs".

DAWN

 

[Clueless]

thres no missile depot, dont fall for indian fake news factory, they claim everything on twitter.

heres the official statement. a short circuit incident.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Accidental fire broke out in ammunition shed near Sialkot Garrison, effective and timely response contained damages and fire has been extinguished<a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialDGISPR</a> <a href="https://t.co/IDFGQ1Hfx5">https://t.co/IDFGQ1Hfx5</a></p>— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1505456913156292613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

By its very definition, missiles are ammunition

 

[Clueless]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1505408876958523392

 

[JaDed]

“National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said on Thursday that the world was "beginning to recognise Pakistan's long-standing concern" about India's nuclear capabilities, expressing the hope that the Islamabad Declaration adopted at the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Islamabad would lead to growing calls for India's accountability.“


By who? lol

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office on Thursday said that Pakistan wanted to promote peace, stability and friendly neighbourhood, and development without becoming part of any bloc.

Addressing a news briefing in Islamabad Thursday afternoon, FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said that Pakistan invited China as a special guest to the recently concluded 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as Beijing wanted to promote cooperation with the OIC countries.

According to the official statement, Iftikhar said that China has a lot to bring to the table to further enhance its cooperation with the Islamic countries and with that spirit "we invited Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest to participate in the OIC CFM conference".

Giving an overview of the outcomes of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting that concluded in Islamabad, the spokesperson said that it is a landmark event in Pakistan's diplomacy and in the context of Islamabad's leading role in the Islamic world.

He said that 140 resolutions on the entire range of political, security, humanitarian, economic, social, legal and financial issues, Muslim minorities, Islamophobia, arms control, terrorism, Covid-19 response, illicit financial flows and corruption, mediation, and OIC reforms were adopted.

He went on to say that 20 resolutions were either sponsored or co-sponsored by Pakistan.

Iftikhar said that an action plan was also adopted by the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Two new resolutions, he said, were adopted during the summit including the expression of grave concerns over the launch of a supersonic Indian missile into Pakistan on March 9.

"The ministers endorsed Pakistan’s call for a joint probe into the incident, and expressed serious concern on the threat it posed to regional and international peace and security," the statement added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/234944...r-joint-probe-into-indias-missile-incident-fo

 

[MenInG]

Indian missile incident

During his speech, Gen Bajwa termed India's "accidental" launching of a supersonic cruise missile into Pakistan on March 9 a matter of "serious concern", saying "we expect India to provide evidence to assure Pakistan and the world that their weapons are safe and secure."

"Unlike other incidents involving strategic weapons systems, this is the first time in history that a supersonic cruise missile from one nuclear-armed nation has landed in another," he said.

The incident had raised "serious concerns" about India's ability to manage and operate high-end weapons systems, Gen Bajwa said, adding that the neighbouring country's "indifferent attitude in not informing Pakistan immediately about the inadvertent launch" was equally concerning.

The missile incident first came to light on March 10 when Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar shared details of an Indian "high-speed flying object" that fell in Mian Channu, Khanewal district.

India issued a statement on March 11, two days after the actual launch of the missile, saying it was an accident.

"We hope the international community will realise that this incident could have resulted in a loss of life in Pakistan or an accidental shooting down of a passenger plane flying along the path of the cruise missile," Gen Bajwa said today.

He noted that Pakistan had called for a thorough probe into the incident, iterating that Pakistan had shown maturity and responsibility on its part.

DAWN

 

[AMSS]

I think Bajwa and Pak establishment are absolutely spot on to demand an explanation from India regarding the incident.

What's puzzled me, as an Indian, is how the Pakistanis themselves have downplayed it with - at least their english media - barely covering it.

They even published the crash in Mian Channu was a trainer aircraft with the pilot ejected and safe at a hospital.

There's something being hidden. Really strong #DoosraBanda vibes.

 

[Lego20]

Some people are speculating that the missile flying through Pakistan airspace was actually a customer demo firing for the Philippines, Vietnam and others. :rotfl:

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: In demonstrating its operational preparedness, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet on the Eastern seaboard.

The "live firing" of the missile was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Navy, the IAF said.

The missile hit the target with accuracy and precision, officials said.

"Today on the Eastern seaboard, #IAF undertook live firing of #BrahMos missile from a Su30 MkI aircraft. The missile achieved a direct hit on the target, a decommissioned #IndianNavy ship. The mission was undertaken in close coordination with [MENTION=1451]Indian[/MENTION]navy," the IAF said in a tweet.

In 2016, the government had decided to integrate the air-launched variant of the Brahmos into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets.

The project was conceived to enhance the IAF's capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target on sea or land.

On March 5, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an advanced version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean.

The missile was test-fired from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.

BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.

The range of the advanced version of the missile is learnt to have been extended to around 350 km from the original 290 km.

NDTV

 

[Poseidon]

3 officers removed from service for missile misfire, says IAF

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/breaking-news-live-updates/liveblog/93718656.cms

Lol

 

[MenInG]

Three officers of the Indian Air Force were sacked on Tuesday for the March 9 accidental firing of a Brahmos missile that landed in Pakistan.

An official statement said the services of the officers were terminated after a Court of Inquiry (CoI) found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by them led to the accidental firing of the missile.

Following the incident, the Defence Ministry described it as "deeply regrettable" while Pakistan lodged a strong protest over it.

"A BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on March 9. A Court of Inquiry (Col), set up to establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile," the statement said.

"These three officers have primarily been held responsible for the incident. Their services have been terminated by the central government with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers on August 23," it said.

Though the Indian Air Force did not mention the ranks and names of the officials whose services have been terminated, it is learnt that a Group Captain is among the three.

The incident had taken place on March 9 and Pakistan had lodged its protest with India the next day.

On March 11, the Defence Ministry said the missile was fired accidentally and it landed in Pakistan.

The ministry had said then that it was caused by a technical malfunction in the course of the routine maintenance of the missile, adding the government has taken a serious view of the incident.

Separately, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on March 15 that SOPs for operations, maintenance, and inspection of such systems were being reviewed.

Following the incident, Pakistan summoned India's Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad and conveyed its strong protest over the "unprovoked" violation of its airspace by the supersonic "projectile" of Indian origin.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, the Director-General of the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan, said the unarmed projectile entered the Pakistani airspace travelling 124 km.

The Pakistan foreign office said the "super-sonic flying object" entered into Pakistan from India's Suratgarh and fell to the ground near Mian Channu city, causing damage to civilian property.

The Pakistan foreign office also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident and demanded that its outcome be shared with Islamabad.

https://www.business-standard.com/a...missile-into-pak-in-march-122082301035_1.html

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan on Wednesday rejected findings of the Indian inquiry into the firing of a supersonic missile into its territory, terming it “totally unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate”.

India on Tuesday said it sacked three air force officers for deviating from standard operating procedures that had led to the accidental firing of missile into Pakistan on March 9. Although there was no loss reported on the ground but the incident could have potentially triggered an accidental war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan was praised for its mature response that had prevented any escalation. Nevertheless Pakistan took strong note of the incident and raised the issue at all internal fora as well as demanded a joint probe.

India while admitting the mistake went ahead with the unilateral probe and now found three air force officers guilty of the incident.

"We have seen India’s announcement of the findings of an internal Court of Inquiry regarding the incident of firing of a rogue supersonic missile into Pakistani territory on 9 March, 2022 and the decision to terminate the services of three Indian Air Force (IAF) officers reportedly found responsible for the reckless incident," said a foreign office statement issued here a day after the Indian announcement.

It said Pakistan categorically rejected India’s purported closure of the highly irresponsible incident and reiterates its demand for a joint probe.

"As expected, the measures taken by India in the aftermath of the incident and the subsequent findings and punishments handed by the so-called internal Court of Inquiry are totally unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate," the statement added.

The foreign office said India had not only failed to respond to Pakistan's demand for a joint inquiry but had also evaded the questions raised by Pakistan regarding the command and control system in place in the country, the safety and security protocols and the reason for Delhi’s delayed admission of the missile launch.

"Systemic loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in handling of strategic weapons cannot be covered up beneath the veneer of individual human error. If indeed India has nothing to hide then it must accept Pakistan’s demand for a joint probe in the spirit of transparency."

The imprudent Indian action of March 9, 2022 had jeopardised the peace and security environment of the entire region. "Pakistan’s demonstration of exemplary restraint is a testament of our systemic maturity and abiding commitment to peace as a responsible nuclear state," the statement noted.

Islamabad reiterated its demand that the Indian government must immediately provide specific responses to its queries with regards to the incident and accedes to its call for a joint probe.

Express Tribune

 

[finalfantasy7]

Pakistan on Wednesday rejected findings of the Indian inquiry into the firing of a supersonic missile into its territory, terming it “totally unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate”.

India on Tuesday said it sacked three air force officers for deviating from standard operating procedures that had led to the accidental firing of missile into Pakistan on March 9. Although there was no loss reported on the ground but the incident could have potentially triggered an accidental war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan was praised for its mature response that had prevented any escalation. Nevertheless Pakistan took strong note of the incident and raised the issue at all internal fora as well as demanded a joint probe.

India while admitting the mistake went ahead with the unilateral probe and now found three air force officers guilty of the incident.

"We have seen India’s announcement of the findings of an internal Court of Inquiry regarding the incident of firing of a rogue supersonic missile into Pakistani territory on 9 March, 2022 and the decision to terminate the services of three Indian Air Force (IAF) officers reportedly found responsible for the reckless incident," said a foreign office statement issued here a day after the Indian announcement.

It said Pakistan categorically rejected India’s purported closure of the highly irresponsible incident and reiterates its demand for a joint probe.

"As expected, the measures taken by India in the aftermath of the incident and the subsequent findings and punishments handed by the so-called internal Court of Inquiry are totally unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate," the statement added.

The foreign office said India had not only failed to respond to Pakistan's demand for a joint inquiry but had also evaded the questions raised by Pakistan regarding the command and control system in place in the country, the safety and security protocols and the reason for Delhi’s delayed admission of the missile launch.

"Systemic loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in handling of strategic weapons cannot be covered up beneath the veneer of individual human error. If indeed India has nothing to hide then it must accept Pakistan’s demand for a joint probe in the spirit of transparency."

The imprudent Indian action of March 9, 2022 had jeopardised the peace and security environment of the entire region. "Pakistan’s demonstration of exemplary restraint is a testament of our systemic maturity and abiding commitment to peace as a responsible nuclear state," the statement noted.

Islamabad reiterated its demand that the Indian government must immediately provide specific responses to its queries with regards to the incident and accedes to its call for a joint probe.

Express Tribune

Even on bbc website :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-62655736

 

[daytrader]

Hindu extremists in control of India's nuclear arsenal: NCA adviser
Gen (retd) Kidwai says ‘toxic mix of poisonous ideology’ posing a serious threat to strategic stability in South Asia

ISLAMABAD:
Adviser to the National Command Authority (NCA), Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, has warned that threats to the region’s strategic stability have grown because of Hindu fundamentalists’ control of Indian nuclear arsenal.

He was speaking at the 8th Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) and The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) workshop on ‘Strategic Stability in South Asia’ on Monday.

“The custodial control of India’s large triad of the nuclear arsenal have now fallen firmly in the hands of an extremist fundamentalist leadership,” he said, adding that the “toxic mix of poisonous ideology and custody of nuclear weapons” was a new phenomenon that was posing a serious threat to strategic stability in South Asia.

Indian National Command Authority is responsible for command, control and operational decisions pertaining to the country’s nuclear arsenal. Its political council is currently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the executive council is headed by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Moreover, few ministers having RSS background are also members of NCA – these include Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Also read: Strategic ambiguities in India’s nuclear doctrinal posturing

PM Modi, it may be recalled, has maintained an aggressive nuclear stance. In his public rallies he talked about usability of nukes. Under Modi’s watch, his ministers and retired senior officials have signalled changes in the nuclear doctrine, which they later denied. His ministers have also made provocative and irresponsible statements on various occasions.

General Kidwai warned that the threat posed by extremists’ control of Indian nuclear weapons had “assumed a real life character and momentum of its own”. The situation, he noted affects not only the region, but also beyond.

He said the February 2019 air strike in Balakot and the March 2022 missile incidents were examples of extremists committing aggression against the nuclear-armed neighbour, while being oblivious of the consequences.

Rejecting Indian assertion that the BrahMos Missile that crashed in Pakistan on March 9 had been accidentally fired, General Kidwai, who has overseen several tests, said it was not an accident as the launch could not have taken place without political clearance at the highest level and detailed operational and technical planning spanning over weeks.

Pakistan on both occasions displayed restraint and maturity in diffusing the tensions, thereby preventing South Asia from spiralling into potential catastrophes, he maintained.

Referring to the so-called AUKUS submarine deal under which US and UK would proliferate nuclear technology to Australia to build nuclear attack submarines, he warned against making a similar arrangement with India.

“I have no hesitation in stating that minimum Pakistani counter measures would be put in place if a reckless imbalance is induced in South Asia, it is not a warning, it's a contingency foreseen,” General Kidwai said while recalling that exceptionalism had been repeatedly employed in South Asia in the past in disregard of Pakistani concerns.

History, he asserted, also tells that Pakistan did not let the international exceptionalism stand in its way to address the imbalances created in the past.

Other experts, who spoke at the workshop, discussed the political and technological drivers of strategic stability in the context of South Asia.

They also deliberated upon the impact of Indian and Pakistani strategic cultures, Hindu Rashtra, big-power competition, emerging technologies, trends in export control arrangements, and the military developments under the growing framework of the Quad Axis.

Express Tribune

 

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The Foreign Office on Wednesday said the firing of BrahMos nuclear-capable missile into Pakistan’s territory on March 9 had raised several questions about India’s conduct as a nuclear state including, whether it was actually an accident.

On March 9, a high-speed flying object breached the international borders of Pakistan and remained in the airspace of Pakistan for more than 3 minutes and 44 seconds before crashing inside the country.

The object covered a distance of approximately 124 kilometres in the territory of Pakistan. DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar confirmed that it was a supersonic Indian BrahMos missile, claimed to be one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world.

On Monday, The Indian Express quoted international nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as saying that it did not see the incident as any cause of “specific concern”.

“India also needs to answer questions about the underlying intentions, technical features and reliability of the missile system, safety, security and nuclear command and control protocols, and the presence of rogue elements in the Indian military,” the FO spokesperson in a press release commented on a query regarding Indian media reports quoting Director General IAEA.

The reports said the firing of BrahMos nuclear-capable missile into Pakistan’s territory from India on 9 March 2022 was not a cause for any specific concern for the IAEA.

“The report is a disingenuous attempt by the Indian state-sponsored media to absolve India of its irresponsible nuclear behaviour by directing this question at the Director General IAEA,” the spokesperson said.

The director general’s response could not be purposely misinterpreted to trivialise the incident of a nuclear-capable BrahMos missile fire with grave implications for regional and global security.

The available transcripts showed that the DG IAEA responded negatively when asked whether the IAEA had sought information from the Indian government on the incident.

It should have been qualified by stating that the IAEA has no mandate on such matters, it was further added.

“India needs to explain several repeated incidents of nuclear and radioactive material theft and illicit trafficking that are more relevant to the IAEA mandate,” the spokesperson said.

It was expected to report these nuclear security-related incidents under the IAEA Incidents and trafficking database. These critical questions, which remain unanswered, should continue to be of concern to the international community, it was added.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land.

The missile was developed as part of a joint venture between Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya initiated in 1998.

India had confirmed accidentally firing a missile into Pakistan on March 9, something Islamabad said could have triggered a major disaster and potential war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

India while admitting the accidental firing of the missile rejected the joint probe demand and instead ordered a court of inquiry.

Pakistan was praised for its mature handling of the missile fiasco as chief military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar in his press conference soon after the incident avoided escalating the matter and instead offered India an opportunity to come clean over the issue.

Apart from seeking a joint probe, Pakistan had sought answers from India on specific questions.

Islamabad also wrote a letter to the UN Security Council urging the world body to demand from the government of India to (a) hold a joint investigation into the missile incident along with Pakistan to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident; (b) desist from any further actions that would jeopardise regional peace and security; and (c) take measures to provide reassurances to Pakistan and the world community about the security and safety of India’s weapons systems and the credibility of its command and control systems.

Express Tribune

 

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Pakistan on Friday reiterated its concern on India’s irresponsible firing of BrahMos supersonic missile into Pakistani territory last year.

The Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement recalled that a year ago on March 9, 2022, a supersonic missile BrahMos was fired from Suratgarh India into Pakistani territory.

It endangered human life and property and posed a grave threat to regional and international peace, security, and stability.

The spokesperson said Pakistan demonstrated exemplary restraint which was a testament of “our systemic maturity and unflinching commitment to peace as a responsible nuclear state”.

The irresponsible act by India was “in violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, civil aviation rules and safety protocols”.

It exposed many loopholes and technical lapses in the Indian system regarding handling of its strategic weapons, she added.

Despite the lapse of one year, the government of India had not acceded to Pakistan’s demand of a joint probe in order to accurately establish the facts surrounding this serious incident.

“India has also not shared findings of its internal inquiry with Pakistan,” she said, adding that its unilateral and hasty closure of the so-called internal inquiry had raised serious questions on the command and control systems in place in India for its strategic weapons.

“Pakistan reiterates its demand for joint probe into this irresponsible incident. We also expect satisfactory response to and clarification of several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorised launch of missiles in a nuclearised environment,” the spokesperson concluded.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

The Indian Army misfired three missiles during an exercise in the Pokharan ranges in the western Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, causing alarm in the surrounding areas, according to the Indian media.

India Today reported that the firing exercise was being held at the Pokhran field when the three surface-to-air missiles were misfired.

The missiles struck fields in different villages, causing loud explosions, however, there were no reports of any loss of life or property damage.

The misfire was attributed to a technical glitch that occurred during the exercise.

DAWN