Pakistan demands joint probe into 'accidental firing' of Indian missile

Categories: NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES

                       Pakistan on Saturday said it was not satisfied with India's "simplistic explanation" on the "accidental firing" of a missile that landed in Pakistan's Punjab province and demanded a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident.Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has taken note of the Press Statement by India's Press Information Bureau's Defence Wing regretting the accidental firing of the Indian-origin missile into Pakistani territory on March 9 due to technical malfunction and the decision to hold a high-level Court of Inquiry.

                      Pakistan's National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf on Friday questioned India's ability to handle sensitive technologies and said the Indian government did not bother to inform Pakistan about the accidental missile firing incident.The Foreign Office said the incident raises several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against accidental or unauthorised missile launch in a nuclearised environment.

                    "Such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities, it said, adding that some of the questions should be answered.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, it said.The Indian missile landed near Mian Chunnu city in Pakistan's Punjab province on Wednesday evening without causing damage to civilian property.

                   "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," India's Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday.The incident happened at a time when there is a chill in bilateral relations between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.Pakistan had downgraded diplomatic ties with India after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistan said the whole incident indicates many loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in India's handling of strategic weapons.