India Summons Pakistan Envoy Over Naval Collision in Arabian

India summoned the most senior Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest following a collision between naval vessels in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred on September 15 when a Pakistan Navy ship closed in on an Indian warship at high speed during a routine surveillance mission.

Former Indian Navy spokesperson Captain DK Sharma called the event "unacceptable." He stated that Pakistani ships maneuvered dangerously around the Indian vessel. Sharma told the ANI news agency that such actions violate established maritime rules and distances that must be maintained between ships at sea.

Diplomatic Protest Lodged

The Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission, Saad Warraich. Officials lodged a formal protest over what they termed the "unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea that led to a collision." The incident took place in international waters in the north Arabian Sea.

The diplomatic protest shows ongoing tensions between the two neighboring nations. The MEA stated the collision did not cause major damage to the Indian vessel.

Breach of Bilateral Agreement

The Indian government asserted the Pakistani ship's conduct directly contravened a specific bilateral pact. The ministry cited Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, signed in April 1991.

This agreement requires each country to give prior notice of major military exercises and troop movements near their shared border. It also mandates that such activities must not be directed at or built up against the other side, aiming to prevent misunderstandings that could spark a crisis.

Warning of Escalation Risk

Former Captain Sharma issued a stark warning about the potential consequences. He said such unprofessional incidents "can lead to a very, very dangerous situation where things can snowball within no time."

Sharma indicated the gravity of the situation was communicated clearly to the Pakistani envoy. "We are exercising restraint, and only this time have they been called; a protest has been lodged, and a warning has been given that this will not be accepted by the Indian Navy at all under any condition," he said.

Official Advisement to Pakistan

In its official press release, the Ministry of External Affairs detailed its demands. "The Charge d'Affaires of Pakistan was advised to convey to the concerned Pakistani authorities, the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides," the statement read.

The primary goal, according to the MEA, is "to prevent any repeat of such incidents." Officials noted that encounters of this nature involving naval warships are rare, particularly during routine surveillance operations in international waters.