India summons Pakistani envoy over naval collision in Arabian Sea

India on Wednesday summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the unprofessional conduct of a Pakistani naval vessel that led to a collision with an Indian Navy warship.

According to government sources, on the evening of 15 September a Pakistani naval ship closed in at high speed on an Indian frontline warship that was on a routine surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea. The Pakistani vessel manoeuvred in an unprofessional and unsafe manner, resulting in a collision. No major damage was reported.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the incident, which occurred in international waters, was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements.

The Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was advised to convey to the relevant authorities in Islamabad the need for all military units to exercise due care and respect the provisions of bilateral agreements in order to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

India has also instructed its own Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.