ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan on Tuesday raised multiple questions about a missile launched from India that landed in its territory, urging New Delhi to do a joint investigation rather than acting unilaterally.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad that the Indian explanation is not enough. He also rejected India's announcement of a high-level investigation into the incident.
On Friday, the second day after the incident, New Delhi stated that "in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunctioning led to the accidental firing of a missile," which landed in Mian Chunnu, a town in the northeastern Punjab province, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Indian border, on March 9.
"Last night I spoke with the UN Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) and also wrote letters to him and the president of the UN Security Council about the blatant violation of the Pakistan airspace," Qureshi told reporters on state-run Pakistan Television.
Qureshi asked New Delhi several questions and said he had also told the UN Security Council and UN secretary-general that Pakistan wants answers to several queries from India.
"India must explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident," Qureshi said
Islamabad has insisted that New Delhi explain the type and specifications of the missile that fell inside their territory.
The country's top diplomat said New Delhi must explain the flight path and trajectory of the accidentally launched missile, as well as how it eventually turned and entered Pakistan.
They also are seeking a response from India about whether the missile was equipped with a self-destruct mechanism and why it was never activated, he added.
- Accidental firing could 'seriously endanger' peace and stability
Qureshi also included these questions in his letters to the UN and UN Security Council, urging them to demand answers from New Delhi.
"Are Indian missiles kept primed for launch even under routine maintenance and why did New Delhi fail to inform Pakistan immediately about the accidental launch of the missile and waited to acknowledge until Pakistan announced the incident and sought clarification?
"Given the profound level of incompetence, India needs to explain if the missile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements," he added.
Separately, Pakistan’s army warned that incidents like the “accidental" firing of the Indian missile could act as a "trigger" and "seriously endanger regional peace and strategic stability."
In a statement Tuesday after corps commanders met at army headquarters in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi, the army said the incident could have resulted in a major "disaster."
“Despite Indian acknowledgment of the mistake, relevant international forums must take a serious view of the incident and subject the safety and security protocols of Indian strategic assets to deliberate oversight," the statement added.
Earlier on Tuesday, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that the government is taking the event seriously and has initiated a formal high-level inquiry.
However, Islamabad has urged that the UN Security Council insist on New Delhi undertaking a joint investigation into the incident with Pakistan because there are numerous concerns that need to be addressed.
Pakistan, as well as the rest of the world, require guarantees about the security and safety of India's weapons system, as well as the credibility of its command and control system, Qureshi said.
- OIC foreign ministers to meet
According to Qureshi, 48 foreign ministers from Islamic countries have confirmed their attendance at a major OIC major summit in Islamabad one week from now.
The foreign minister, however, alleged that Indian diplomats in Islamabad are working around the clock to disrupt the event.
The 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad is set to begin on March 22.
"I know that Indian diplomats, the Indian High Commission even in Islamabad are working round the clock to subvert and sabotage the 48 sessions," Qureshi claimed.
"Now the question is that they have their own design; they are feeling very uncomfortable that the Kashmir issue will be raised by Pakistan, and Pakistan will raise (it) with force and determination and that's why they create this uncertainty,” he alleged, referring to the issue of the long-disputed region.
He was alluding to the present political situation, which was sparked by opposition parties filing a no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan in parliament and announcing a long march into Islamabad on March 23.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid