The incident evoked a sharp response from the Pakistani side which then questioned the safety mechanism of the missile as well as the capability of those who are operating the same. However, India stuck to what it said and ensured that the inquiry was taken to its logical conclusion and those responsible brought to immediate book. Kashmir Digest, in an Editorial soon after the incident has already highlighted the issue and has pitched for stern action against those responsible while putting Pakistan in its place, which was then seeking a joint investigation into the matter.
Indian defense forces are well disciplined and know the importance of the posts which they hold, however, those who caused the missile launch, and put India in a tight spot, diplomatically, should be treated as an exception. At the same time, there is a need for the authorities to ensure that such violations and irregularities do not occur in the future and for that, the concerned Ministry needs to formulate a strategy aimed at preventing such incidents from happening, because if it sees a repeat, the same would raise a question mark over the capability of the defense forces in handling critical arsenal.
One important point that should be noted here is that the nuclear non-proliferation lobby in the west as well as the US has always been raising questions over the safety of nuclear weapons; especially their handling not only by Pakistan, but that list includes India too. For Pakistan, they are more than apprehensive that the extremist elements might get control of nuclear weapons—in such a scenario, where our neighbor is already under the scanner, India needs to tread the path carefully, and remain extra cautious concerning the handling of such weapons.
Indian defense forces, especially those in IAF, are highly trained and skilled apart from being highly professional, but about the handling of such critical and sensitive weapons, the Defence Ministry now desperately needs to have an action plan which would ensure effective handling and strict adherence to the SOPs to be followed in such situations. Concerning the response of Pakistan, it is a known fact that if such an incident would have occurred there, let alone the inquiry, they would not have even acknowledged it. Kudos to the IAF for being blunt, straightforward, and taking timely action which will pave a way for operational changes in the system, wherever needed. Even if three officers have been sacked, the same might become a tipping point for great reforms ahead.
