Last week India accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan. Speaking on the incident at the Upper House and Lower House of the Parliament, the defence minister said that, India's missile systems are safe and secure. He added that India's defence's establishment places a high priority on safety procedures and protocols.
He stated that the recent accidental missile release was regrettable, adding that a review of standard operations and maintenance was being conducted and that any shortcoming discovered, will be rectified.
The defence minster said that the government has taken serious note of the incident and a formal high-level inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the incident.
'During routine maintenance and inspection, a missile was accidentally released at around 7 pm. It was later learnt that the missile had landed inside the territory of Pakistan. While this incident is regretted, we are relieved that nobody was hurt due to the accident,' the minister said.
'I would also like to state that a review of the Standard Operating Procedures for operations, maintenance and inspections is being conducted in the wake of this incident. We attach the highest priority to the safety and security of our weapon systems. If any shortcoming is found, the same would be immediately rectified,' he continued.
'Moreover, our safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order and are reviewed from time to time. Our Armed Forces are well-trained and disciplined and are well experienced in handling such systems,' he added.
Pakistani DGISPR, Major General Babar Iftikhar, had disseminated the information last Thursday that an unarmed projecting launched from India entered 124 km inside Pakistani territory near Main Channu in Khanewal district.
To register their strong protest over unprovoked violation of their airspace, Pakistan summoned Charge d'Affaires at the Indian embassy in Islamabad.
They described the missile as a supersonic projectile.
The Indian defence ministry had ordered a court of inquiry into the incident last Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)
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