Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Sunday said that Islamabad observed restraint after India "accidently" launched an unarmed hypersonic missile on Wednesday night, even though his country could have responded to the incident. The missile landed in Pakistan’s Punjab province near Mian Channu.
“We could have responded after an Indian missile fell in Mian Channu but we observed restraint,” PM Imran Khan said in a rally.
Pakistan on Thursday alleged that on 9th March a high-speed projectile, which was launched from India, entered its airspace after travelling 124 km and crashed near Mian Channu.
DG ISPR said that the Pakistan Air Force closely monitored the path followed by the projectile up until its crashing which, as per its claim, originated from Sirsa in Haryana, India.
Also read| India-Australia virtual summit after Modi hosts Japanese PM visit this month: Reports
New Delhi on Friday, i.e., 11th March, in a press release accepted that the hypersonic missile had indeed originated from India.
The cause of the incident was said to be a “malfunction” which ended up sending the missile into Pakistani territory.
“The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry. It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident,” the Ministry of Defence said in the release.
Also read| Nearly half of Russia's reserves frozen amid Ukraine war
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday demanded a joint probe into the incident “to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident” given that the missile landed in its territory.
The incident comes at a time when the Pakistan PM Imran Khan is facing massive criticism from the public as well the opposition parties.
The Pakistan opposition earlier this week submitted a no-confidence motion against the Imran-Khan government for its mismanagement of the country’s economy.
The Pakistan PM was addressing a rally in the Punjab province when he made this comment. The rally was organized to shore up public support just days before his government’s strength will be tested in Pakistan's national assembly.
