Indian defence ministry admits ‘accidentally firing’ missile into Pakistan

Islamabad (HRNW) India’s Defence Ministry issued a statement on Friday that its military accidentally fired a missile into neighbouring Pakistan. “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile,” it stated. “The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.” The ministry said that the accident is deeply regrettable, however, it did not apologize for the mishap. “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 statement added. The statement comes a day after Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar asked India for an explanation. According to the DG ISPR, a supersonic Indian projectile, without a warhead, entered Pakistani airspace and crashed near Mian Channu in Punjab without causing human casualties or any major damage to property. He had further added that the projectile was “picked up” by Pakistan’s radars while still in the Indian airspace and was tracked until it made the impact.