The projectile malfunction
The misguided missile from India into Pakistan’s territory was surely a point of high concern. The projectile had not only raised security stakes but had put commercial flights in danger. The unarmed missile fell in Khanewal’s Mian Channu area on March 9, and led to speculations in an era when the region is in a flux. It is, nonetheless, a good omen that both the countries kept their cool and explicitly looked into the occurrence. Pakistan Army’s composed gesture to know from India as to what happened, and giving them enough time to come up with their version reflected responsibility and astute leadership in confidence. It is appreciated that Delhi too did its homework, and officially repented the incident saying it was an ‘accident’ owing to malfunction in its technical domains.
This off-the-cuff technical fuss is in need of being studied. Moeed Yusuf, the NSA, has raised a pertinent point, as he called in question India’s ability to handle sensitive technology. This is so because recent history is amassed with lapses on the part of India’s security apparatus, wherein toxic radioactive material was openly being sold in the open market. Thus, this firing of an unarmed missile is enough to kick the can to scrutinise safety and security standards in the Indian defence establishment. Pakistan’s composed gesture and drawing of attention to this security lapse shouldn’t be taken as a piece of animosity, and rather lessons drawn to beef up bilateral confidence and collective security.
The uneasy peace between both the countries prevailing since the agreement over LoC in early 2021 is in need of being buoyed. As a confidence building mechanism, the accord to exchange nuclear facilities list every year, and the Indus Water Treaty unanimity are great benchmarks to further cooperation. India and Pakistan need to talk, and that too comprehensively without any preconditions. It is a must if peace is to prevail and the notion of geo-economics succeed. This will help in addressing contentious issues such as Kashmir, too. But what is instantly needed is a leap forward in taking the first step to initiate dialogue. The appropriate way in which Delhi has taken note of the accidental supersonic flying object needs to be broadened to address all similar issues of bilateral concern.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2022.
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