New Delhi: India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong diplomatic protest after a Pakistani naval vessel collided with an Indian Navy ship in international waters, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describing the conduct as “unacceptable and unprofessional.”
The incident took place in the North Arabian Sea on September 15. According to Indian government sources, the Pakistani vessel approached an Indian Navy warship operating on a routine surveillance mission at high speed and carried out an unsafe manoeuvre, resulting in the collision. No major damage to the Indian vessel was reported.
The diplomatic action centres on Article 10 of the April 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements. The MEA said the conduct of the Pakistani naval ship was in “direct contravention” of the provision.
PAK’s PNS Hunain ‘collided’ with an Indian vessel; India summons Pak diplomat over Naval collision
MEA calls Pakistani conduct unacceptable and unprofessional@eriknjoka has more with @sidhant pic.twitter.com/Ywe5M5QYrc
— WION (@WIONews) September 16, 2026
Three-nautical-mile safety rule
Article 10 specifically requires Indian and Pakistani naval ships and submarines operating in international waters to maintain a separation of at least three nautical miles, a provision intended to reduce the risk of accidents between the two countries’ naval forces.
The broader 1991 agreement was designed to prevent military activities from being misinterpreted and to reduce the possibility of incidents escalating into larger confrontations. It contains provisions covering the countries’ land, naval and air forces.
India has asked Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires to convey New Delhi’s concerns to the relevant authorities and stressed that military units must exercise due care and comply with bilateral agreements to prevent a recurrence. India’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
#Breaking
🚨Collision between a Pakistani naval unit & an Indian Navy ship in international waters.▪️The Chargé d’Affaires of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today & a strong protest was lodged with him over… pic.twitter.com/22kjWaa5XT
— ⚡️🌎 World News 🌐⚡️ (@ferozwala) September 16, 2026
Earlier naval clash
The latest episode also recalls a 2011 incident involving PNS Babur and the Indian frigate INS Godavari in the Gulf of Aden.
During an anti-piracy operation on June 16, 2011, PNS Babur came into contact with INS Godavari while the Indian warship was approaching the merchant vessel MV Suez, which had earlier been hijacked by Somali pirates.
Then Defence Minister A.K. Antony told Parliament in August 2011 that the Pakistani warship had approached INS Godavari at high speed and, during a manoeuvre, touched the Indian vessel, causing minor damage to its extended safety net. India subsequently lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident.
The latest collision has once again put the spotlight on the bilateral maritime safety provisions intended to prevent accidental encounters between Indian and Pakistani naval forces operating at sea.
