Following India’s missile misadventure that could’ve ended in disaster, possible creating a serious diplomatic crisis, the USA has weighed in on the matter and its response, expectedly, is tone deaf and needlessly heavily in favor of Delhi. In the absence of a detailed inquiry, the USA stating unequivocally that this cannot be anything but an accident is a biased statement stemming from its less than cordial current relations with Islamabad. Alternatively, China has taken a much more nuanced stance, encouraging both countries to hold talks and a joint probe into the ‘accidental’ missile firing should be held.
It is quite understandable why Pakistan would like to join the enquiry into the straying of an Indian BrahMos missile into Pakistan. For one, Pakistan had no means of knowing that the missile was not carrying a nuclear payload until it landed near Mian Channu. It is also fortunate that it landed in an empty area, and not in a built-up area. It is also fortunate that its path did not cross that of any civilian airliner. These pieces of good fortune cannot be ascribed to any wisdom or prudence, but were the result of mere chance. Such incidents must be avoided, because the other side might respond aggressively. A joint investigation would lead to a means of developing procedures for the two countries to follow in the event of such accidents. As it is, the ‘mistake’ provided a check of the PAF’s and the Pakistan Army’s ability to respond. It would not be beyond India to fire off an expensive blank as a test. Presumably the swift and professional response of both will have shown India that any aggression will be met appropriately.
Pakistan and India have a host of outstanding issues that can only be addressed and resolved through meaningful dialogue. That Pakistan is prepared to hold such talks and India continues to attach unjustifiable preconditions to any such deliberations to take place means that the resistance to normalization of relations is one-sided. Afterall, any departure from the BJP’s baseless narrative of Pakistan being a sponsor of cross border terrorism, which feeds the xenophobic mindset that is increasingly prevalent in India,would be politically damaging for the ruling party.
