New Delhi: Pakistan on Thursday claimed that a high speed flying object was launched from India on March 9 which landed inside Pakistani territory. “On March 9, at 6:43 pm, a high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistan Air Force. From the initial course it deviated and entered Pakistan territory and fell, causing some damage to civilian installations but did not cause loss of life,” said Major Gen Babar Iftikhar, spokesperson for the Inter Services Public Relations(ISPR) said while addressing a press conference. He further said that the projectile remained in the air for three minutes before landing in Pakistan. “It traveled a distance of 260 kmbefore landing in Pakistan,” he said. “It was a supersonic flying object, most probably a missile, but it was certainly unarmed,” he said. The spokesperson claimed that the PAF continuously monitored the flying path of the object, from its point of origin in Sirsa of India to the point of impact. The spokesperson said that all the information on the incident has been provided to the Foreign Office and the matter would be taken up at relevant forums. Demanding an explanation from India, the spokesperson said that a detailed enquiry is being conducted into the incident including forensic examination. “India must explain what caused this.. the incident could have resulted in a major aviation disaster,” he said adding the projectile could have hit any of the flights operated in the region. Pakistan Army has already initiated the required action, he said. Calling the incident a flagrant violation of norms, he said that there was no sensitive installation in Mian Channu where the projectile fell. “As a responsible nation we will wait for India to respond,” he said. The response of the IAF or Defence Ministry could not be obtained but some experts believe the claims of Pakistan are a propaganda to deviate attention from internal turmoil. UNI ASU RKM
