Several situations may have resulted from India's missile launch: Rehman, Sherry

ISLAMABAD:

During a hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Sherry Rehman, the chairperson of the committee, described the firing of an Indian missile into Pakistan as a "possible trigger point for numerous crises."

In a Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs session held at Parliament House, Rehman, who is also a parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People's Party on the Senate, discussed the Indian projectile crash in Pakistani territory and the follow-up to Prime Minister Imran Khan's Moscow travel.

Rehman stated his plan to call officials from the Air Defense Command and the Strategic Plans Division to the committee's next meeting and requested an in-camera briefing on the topic at the meeting.

"The Indian missile mishap was a very scary signal of a number of catastrophes that may have been created," the Senator stated.

She stated that an escalation of hostilities between two nuclear-armed countries must be avoided at all costs, especially in the absence of a mechanism for de-escalation.

"There is no contemporary example in the world of such a risky setting when two nuclear powers who have fought four wars are also immediate neighbours."

She explained that the gravity of this alleged "error" cannot be overlooked by Pakistan or the world community because of our volatile past.

"It's critical to note that this 'technical fault' did not occur in disputed area, but rather in Mian Channu, 500 kilometres from Islamabad," she stated.

Even i we accept the poor argument that it was a missile that deviated from its planned path, why did it not self-destruct, according to the senator.

She questioned why India would let such a massive mistake to "slip" through a "regular inspection."

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Sohail Mehmood briefed the committee on the subject, expressing Pakistan's outrage at the gross infringement by calling India's charge d'affaires and handing him the questions demanding an explanation, as well as a warning against a repeat of the occurrence. "Pakistan expects a joint investigation into the incident's facts," he continued.

She questioned Pakistan's "efforts to ensure the safe and secure return of its nationals, with a particular focus on students and the consequences of Pakistan's exposure" during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Prime Minister's travel to Russia was arranged two years ago, according to Sohail Mehmood. He said that the prime minister had been asked to visit Russia twice last year but was unable to do so due of the corona epidemic.

"Several heads of state visited Russia, and it was expected that there would be no conflict, but it unhappily occurred during their stay." During his visit, the prime minister advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict," the foreign secretary said.

The Prime Minister's journey to Russia, according to Sohail Mehmood, was arranged two years ago. He said that the prime minister was asked to visit Russia twice last year but was unable to do so due of the corona outbreak.

"Several chiefs of state visited Russia, and it was expected that there would be no conflict; instead, it occurred during the visit." During his visit, the prime minister urged for a peaceful resolution of the matter via discussion," the foreign secretary said.

Senator Sherry Rehman plans to enlist the help of officers from the Air Defense Command and the Strategic Plans Division on this issue.

Pakistan and the world community, he claims, are aware of India's alleged "error."

Defends the avoidance of conflicts between two nuclear-armed nations.

An accidental missile fired by India last week prompted Pakistan to prepare a retaliatory strike, people familiar with the matter said, showing how close the nuclear-armed neighbours came to blows over a potentially disastrous mistake.