NEW DELHI: India today said that two days ago a missile that landed in Pakistan was fired 'accidentally' due to a technical malfunction from one of the bases and stated that it was "deeply regrettable".

The Ministry of Defence in its statement has added that it was a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident. The ministry also announced ordering a court of inquiry into the incident a day after Pakistan said a high-speed projectile launched from India entered its airspace and fell near Mian Channu in Khanewal district.

Pakistan had summoned the Indian envoy, Charge d'Affaires M Suresh Kumar over the alleged airspace violation and expressed displeasure with the breach by an Indian-origin supersonic flying object. Pakistan has also demanded a full and transparent inquiry into the event.

According to Pakistan it entered the country at 6.43 pm on March 9, from Suratgarh in India and fell on the ground near Mian Channu around 124 km inside Pakistani territory at about 6.50 pm and caused some damage to civilian property. Some local media has reported that the missile fell on a residential area damaging a wall. 

The Pakistani military has said that the supersonic missile that has not been identified by either country was cruising at an altitude of 40,000 feet when the air defence operations centre of the Pakistan air force detected it on their system.

Defence experts say that such an incident could be a dangerous proposition between two neighbouring countries which are not only nuclear-armed but have a history of conflicts and wars.  One expert said, "A loose high altitude missile has the potential to cause severe damage, including endangering civilian passenger flights. It is good news that there was no loss of life but what is more comforting is that the missile did not carry a warhead, otherwise we do not know what would it lead to."