Saturday, 26 Jul 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > India Accidentally Fires a Missile at Pakistan. Calm Ensues.
World

India Accidentally Fires a Missile at Pakistan. Calm Ensues.

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
India Accidentally Fires a Missile at Pakistan. Calm Ensues.
SHARE

JAIPUR, India — One nuclear-armed state fired a cruise missile at another nuclear-armed state this week. They were not at war, and it did not start one.

On Friday, India acknowledged that one of its missiles had mistakenly been fired into Pakistan two days earlier. Pakistan criticized India’s “callousness and ineptitude” in a “nuclear environment.” And that, so far, has been the end of the matter — a subdued aftermath that many saw as nothing short of a small miracle.

The two neighbors have fought several bloody conflicts, and the mere suspicion of covert support for militant attacks has brought them to the verge of war in the past. The mistrust runs so deep that pigeons crossing the border have been captured on suspicion of being used for espionage.

Analysts in India commended the Pakistani military, the country’s most powerful institution, for its reserved response to the missile firing, which apparently caused no casualties. That muted reaction seems to have headed off what could have become a disastrous escalation.

But the episode is bound to raise concerns about the safety of India’s weapons systems, and about the government’s credibility on that subject. India waited 48 hours to confirm that the accident had happened, and Pakistani officials said they had received no information about it from their Indian counterparts in the meantime.

“The Pakistani side has shown great maturity,” said Sushant Singh, a senior fellow at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research. “We have been lucky this time. We should not make the mistake to think we will be lucky every time.”

Much of what is known about the missile launch has come from the Pakistani side.

Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan’s national security adviser, said a supersonic projectile had crossed the border at an altitude of 40,000 feet. Pakistani officials said it landed near the small city of the Mian Channu, about 75 miles from the border.

There were reports of damage to civilian property, but apparently no loss of life. Initial reports in Pakistani news media had suggested that an aircraft might have crashed.

“This missile traveled close to the path of international and domestic commercial airlines and threatened the safety of civilians,” Mr. Yusuf said. “It is also highly irresponsible of Indian authorities not to have informed Pakistan immediately that an inadvertent launch of a cruise missile had taken place.”

In its brief statement on Friday, the Indian Defense Ministry said “a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile” that landed in Pakistan. It offered no other details but said a “high-level court of inquiry” would look into the matter.

Mr. Singh noted that sheer luck seemed to have prevented disaster: the fact that the missile did not hit military infrastructure, an aircraft or a populated area; that it was not launched at a time when tensions were higher than usual; and that it was not armed with a nuclear warhead.

For decades, militancy in Pakistan — and worries about sympathy within its armed forces for militant groups — has raised concerns about the potential vulnerability of its nuclear arsenal.

India has long tried to distance itself from suggestions that its systems have vulnerabilities of their own, saying that foolproof safety measures and procedures were in place. A mistake like the one this week, at a time when chest-thumping talk of using force against Pakistan has become a trope in political speeches by India’s Hindu nationalist leaders, is likely to cast doubt on those assurances.

“Those questions are bound to be raised again, and India is going to come under a lot of pressure,” Mr. Singh said. “Not just Pakistan will raise these questions, but a lot of questions will be raised in Washington also.”

Mujib Mashal reported from Jaipur, India, and Salman Masood from Islamabad, Pakistan.

TAGGED:Defense and Military ForcesIndiaMissiles and Missile Defense SystemsNuclear WeaponsPakistanThe Washington Mail
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article The origins of NATO The origins of NATO
Next Article Vladimir Putin’s massive miscalculation in Ukraine| GARY COSBY JR. Vladimir Putin’s massive miscalculation in Ukraine| GARY COSBY JR.

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

Working scared

Main as much as the March 7 State of the Union speech, Biden supporters had…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Putin weighs whether to recognize Ukrainian breakaway regions amid spiraling tensions

Amid fears Russia was trying to manufacture a reason to invade Ukraine on Monday, President…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Winning lottery jackpot is lucky for some, tragic for others

Dave and Erica Harrig stayed true to their values when they won a lottery jackpot…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

White House knocks down talk of banning Russian oil imports

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki speaks with reporters at the White HouseThe White House on…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Beware the blizzard of lies: US recommendation on the best way to deal with Farage’s Trump ways
World

Beware the blizzard of lies: US recommendation on the best way to deal with Farage’s Trump ways

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Israel-Gaza warfare reside: European nations debate recognition of Palestine as hunger spreads in Gaza
World

Israel-Gaza warfare reside: European nations debate recognition of Palestine as hunger spreads in Gaza

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
‘Dodgy guys who dress just like him’: meet the staff behind far-right activist Tommy Robinson
World

‘Dodgy guys who dress just like him’: meet the staff behind far-right activist Tommy Robinson

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
At the very least 20 killed as army aircraft crashes into Bangladesh college campus
World

At the very least 20 killed as army aircraft crashes into Bangladesh college campus

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?