Why A Loose Missile Can End Up Triggering Nuclear War

On March 9, an Indian missile ‘accidentally’ launched and landed in Pakistan. Although it didn’t cause serious damage, an incident like this involving hostile nuclear-armed neighbours is the stuff of military nightmares. The defence ministry has said it’s holding a high-level inquiry but Pakistan wants a joint probe

- Kenneth Mohanty

A little before 7 pm on March 9, the Pakistani military picked up a “high-speed flying object” originating inside Indian territory that “suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory”. The missile was not shot down but crashed on its own 120km inside Pakistani territory, destroying some civilian property.

On March 11, India said it was “a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident”, which it termed “deeply regrettable” and the result of a “technical malfunction”.

India did not name the missile but analysts have concluded it was a BrahMos supersonic missile. Developed jointly with Russia, it is considered to be among the most advanced missiles of its class and also the fastest. More importantly, it is nuclear-capable and has a range that covers most Pakistani cities.

Defence ministry sources said the missile was fired accidentally during a training and maintenance exercise near an IAF base in northern India where, incidentally, an audit by IAF’s Directorate of Air Staff Inspection was on.