PTI

Islamabad, March 11

Pakistan on Friday summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires right here and conveyed its sturdy protest over the alleged unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian-origin “super-sonic flying object” and sought a radical and clear investigation into the incident that would have resulted in a severe aviation accident.

The Indian diplomat who was summoned to the Foreign Office was instructed concerning the alleged violation of its airspace by an Indian-origin “super-sonic flying object” which entered into Pakistan from Suratgarh in India at 6:43 PM (native time) on March 9, the Foreign Office stated in an announcement.

The object later fell on the bottom close to Mian Chunnu metropolis in Pakistan’s Punjab province at round 6:50 PM on the identical day, inflicting harm to civilian property.

“The Indian diplomat was conveyed that the imprudent launch of the flying object not only caused damage to civilian property but also put at risk human lives on ground,” the Foreign Office (FO) stated.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi additionally voiced concern over the incident.

In an announcement, Qureshi alleged that India had endangered harmless lives by violating Pakistan’s airspace as flights of Saudi and Qatar airways, in addition to home flights, might have been hit.

He stated Pakistan would resolve its subsequent step after receiving India’s rationalization, including that envoys of P-5 international locations (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) can be known as to the Foreign Office and briefed concerning the incident.

“India will have to be answerable for this,” he stated.

Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia, who addressed a press convention on Thursday, stated that on the time the projectile was picked up by the Pakistani army, there have been two energetic airway routes and several other industrial airways had been within the space.

“If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers.” The projectile travelled 124 kilometres inside Pakistani territory in three minutes and 44 seconds, he added.

The FO additionally stated the flight path of the flying object endangered a number of home/worldwide flights throughout the Pakistani airspace and will have resulted in a severe aviation accident in addition to civilian casualties, it stated.

There was no quick response from the Indian aspect.

“The Indian Cd’A was told to convey to the Government of India Pakistan’s strong condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistani airspace in contravention of the established international norms and aviation safety protocols,” the FO stated.

Pakistan additionally requested India for a radical and clear investigation of the incident, the result of which have to be shared with it.

Moreover, the Government of India is cautioned to be aware of the disagreeable penalties of such negligence and take efficient measures to keep away from the recurrence of such violations in future, stated the FO.

Separately, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar stated that on March 9, a hi-speed flying object was picked up contained in the Indian territory by the Air Defence Operations Center of the Pakistan Air Force.

“Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation and cautions against recurrence of any such incident in future,” he stated.

“Pakistan Air Force continuously monitored the complete flight path of the flying object from its point of origin Sirsa in India till its point of impact near Mian Channu and initiated requisite tactical actions in accordance with standard operating procedures,” he stated.

He stated India ought to clarify no matter brought on this incident to occur.

Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror assault on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror teams primarily based within the neighbouring nation. Subsequent assaults, together with one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, additional deteriorated the connection.

The relationship deteriorated additional after India introduced withdrawing the particular powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August, 2019.

India’s transfer to revoke the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad. It additionally snapped all air and land hyperlinks with India and suspended commerce and railway providers.

India has stated that it wishes regular neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an atmosphere freed from terror, hostility, and violence.