ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI – On Friday, India acknowledged that a missile was accidentally fired into Pakistan earlier this week due to a “technical malfunction” during routine maintenance. This revelation followed Pakistan’s formal protest, summoning India’s envoy to express concerns over the incident.

Historically, the nuclear-armed neighbors have a fraught relationship, marked by three wars and various smaller conflicts, primarily over the contested region of Kashmir. The recent incident raised alarms regarding safety protocols between the two countries, especially as tensions had subsided in recent months.

The Indian Ministry of Defence stated, “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile,” adding that the missile landed in Pakistan without causing any casualties. The ministry emphasized that the government had initiated a high-level Court of Enquiry into the matter.

Pakistan’s foreign office condemned the incident, labeling it an unprovoked breach of its airspace that could have jeopardized civilian flights and lives. They cautioned India to be vigilant regarding the repercussions of such negligence, urging effective measures to prevent future incidents.

Military analyst Ayesha Siddiqa highlighted the need for both countries to prioritize risk mitigation, emphasizing that while both nations have confidence in their nuclear controls, future accidents could lead to far more severe consequences.

A spokesman for the Pakistani military reported that the missile, originating from Sirsa in India, crashed near Mian Channu, posing a significant danger to numerous passenger flights traversing both Indian and Pakistani airspace. The object reportedly traveled at 40,000 feet and three times the speed of sound, covering 124 kilometers (77 miles) in Pakistani airspace.

Despite the serious implications of the incident, experts like Happymon Jacob, a professor at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, noted the mature response from both nations. He suggested that India should consider compensating Pakistan for any damage incurred, reflecting a hopeful approach to improving relations between the two countries.