‘Unprofessional’: Pakistani ship collides with Indian naval unit, India summons Islamabad’s envoy

The collision caused no major damage, but India said the Pakistani naval ship’s conduct was in violation of agreed safety provisions governing the two countries’ military vessels

India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich and lodged a strong protest over a collision involving naval vessels from the two countries in international waters.

The incident took place on the evening of September 15 in the North Arabian Sea, around 220 kilometres east of Oman.

According to details released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), an Indian Navy warship was carrying out a routine surveillance mission when a Pakistan Navy vessel approached it at high speed.

India described the Pakistani vessel’s manoeuvres as ‘unacceptable and unprofessional’, saying the close-range movement led to a minor collision between the two ships.

The vessels were subsequently steered away from each other. The MEA said the incident did not result in any major damage.

The collision took place in international waters, outside the territorial waters of either country.

While the Indian statement did not mention names of either ship, ANI reported sources as saying that the Pakistani vessel involved in the incident was PNS Hunain, an offshore patrol vessel of the Yarmook class.

India protests violation of 1991 agreement

During the meeting with Warraich, New Delhi raised strong objections to the conduct of the Pakistani naval unit.

The MEA said the actions of the Pakistani vessel were in direct contravention of Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements.

The agreement contains provisions aimed at preventing accidents and maintaining safety when naval vessels of the two countries operate in international waters.

India told Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to convey to the relevant authorities the need for all military units to exercise due care and follow the provisions of bilateral agreements.

New Delhi also said it had instructed its Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What does the 1991 agreement say?

Article 10 of the agreement requires naval ships and submarines of India and Pakistan to maintain a minimum distance of three nautical miles from each other while operating in international waters, with the aim of preventing accidents.

The provision has previously featured in India-Pakistan naval disputes. In 2011, India protested against what it described as risky manoeuvres by Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Babur involving Indian Navy ship INS Godavari, also citing Article 10 of the agreement.

The MEA has not publicly provided further details about the vessels involved or the precise circumstances leading to the collision.