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India sacks officers for accidentally firing missile into Pakistan

Getty Images Brahmos missile on display during the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath , on January 26, 2007 in New Delhi, India.Getty Images
The BrahMos is a nuclear-capable cruise missile, tly developed by Russia and India

India's government has sacked three air force officers for the "accidental firing of a missile" into Pakistan in March.

The incident had escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Delhi had blamed the "deeply regrettable" incident on a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance.

Islamabad warned Delhi to "be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence" and to avoid a repeat.

The officers responsible for the 9 March incident have been terminated from service, the Indian Air Force said in a statement on Tuesday.

It added that an investigation had found that "deviation of Standard Operating Procedure" by the officers had led to the accidental firing of the BrahMos missile.

The BrahMos is a nuclear-capable cruise missile, tly developed by Russia and India.

Pakistan's air force said the missile travelled at Mach 3 - three times the speed of sound - at an altitude of 12,000m (40,000ft) and flew 124km (77 miles) in Pakistani airspace before crashing.

The military said that the missile had "endangered many enger and international flights in Indian and Pakistani airspace" as well as "human life and property on the ground."

India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, had said after the incident that India prioritised the "safety and security" of its weapon system and that shortcomings found in the system would be rectified after an inquiry.

Hostility between India and Pakistan has focused on Kashmir, with both sides laying claim to the territory but each controlling only part of it - territories recognised internationally as "Indian-istered Kashmir" and "Pakistan-istered Kashmir".

The two nations have fought wars over the disputed territory in the past, and Delhi has frequently accused its neighbour of backing separatist militants in Kashmir - an accusation Islamabad denies.

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