Indian journalists criticise missile fiasco by a nuclear-armed India

Indian journalists have strongly criticised the failure of Indian authorities following the missile fiasco by a nuclear-armed state after New Delhi accepted that a missile was ‘accidentally’ fired into Pakistan.

The journalists’ criticism came in after India says it accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan on Wednesday, blaming the incident on a “technical malfunction” during routine maintenance.

Delhi said it was “deeply regrettable” and expressed relief no one was killed, according to AFP.

In a statement, India’s defence ministry said: “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.”

A journalist from Indian Express, Nirupama Subramanian said, “Wish India had acknowledged this missile fiasco immediately after it happened, instead of keeping quiet for 48 hours after the incident, and making a statement only after Pakistan announced it. This stuff doesn’t allow for mistakes. It’s a zero error job. no room for #galtisemistake.”

Wish India had acknowledged this missile fiasco immediately after it happened, instead of keeping quiet for 48 hours after the incident, and making a statement only after Pakistan announced it.

— Nirupama Subramanian (@tallstories) March 11, 2022

Shekhar Gupta, ThePrint Founder, wrote on Twitter, “Think for a moment if a Pakistani cruise missile had strayed into India instead. Govt might’ve kept its counsel but our warrior TV channels would’ve gone ballistic—with warheads, of course.”

Think for a moment if a Pakistani cruise missile had strayed into India instead. Govt might’ve kept its counsel but our warrior TV channels would’ve gone ballistic—with warheads, of course….

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) March 11, 2022

Praveen Swami from The Print said, “For anyone underestimating the seriousness of one nuclear-weapons state accidentally firing cruise missile at another nuclear-weapons state: consider, slowly and carefully, the three words Mutually Assured Destruction.”

In a Twitter thread, Swami wrote, “Understanding why this is such a big deal isn’t hard. Side A may accidentally fire a weapon a conventional warhead (or no warhead). But Side B can’t know for what it’s being hit with. If you’re Side B, would you wait to find out (which could cost you your own nukes)?”

For anyone underestimating the seriousness of one nuclear-weapons state accidentally firing cruise missile at another nuclear-weapons state: consider, slowly and carefully, the three words Mutually Assured Destruction

— Praveen Swami (@praveenswami) March 11, 2022

“The reason this was handled calmly was we’re not in a crisis, and no-one has itchy trigger fingers. But, unfortunately, technical malfunctions can happen anytime. At every Track II nuclear dialogue I’ve been at, military guys—both India and Pakistan—have mostly insisted they’re on top of all this stuff, and know how to handle the risks. This incident makes clear there’s a need for much more serious conversation.”

Ayesha Siddiqa commented on her tweet, saying, “Both sides can’t remain nonchalant about this incident. Time to start talking & have a more serious conversation (even bfr solving Kashmir) on nuclear risk reduction”

Both sides can’t remain nonchalant about this incident. Time to start talking & have a more serious conversation (even bfr solving Kashmir) on nuclear risk reduction

— Ayesha Siddiqa (@iamthedrifter) March 11, 2022

Praveen Swami replied, “I totally agree. And this is a much too serious to be left to Generals. Have you ever heard of a nuclear wargame in our part of the world involving political leaders? How many politicians even understand what nuclear weapons actually are, and what risks they involve?”

Missile crashed in Mian Channu

Pakistan’s military had said a “high-speed flying object” had crashed near the eastern city of Mian Channu and its flight path had endangered passenger flights.

Both countries have nuclear weapons.

In a statement, India’s defence ministry said: “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.”

Islamabad warned Delhi to “be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence” and to avoid a repeat. The object had been launched from Sirsa in Haryana state, it said.

Pakistan’s air force said the missile travelled at Mach 3 – three times the speed of sound – at an altitude of 12,000m (40,000ft) and flew 124km (77 miles) in Pakistani airspace before crashing.

“The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace, as well as human life and property of ground,” said Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikharon Thursday.

On Friday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had summoned India’s chargé d’affaires to complain about the incident.

Pakistan also urged India to share the findings of its investigation into what happened.