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Indian and Pakistani naval vessels involved in a collision in the Arabian Sea, with both sides lodging diplomatic protests -- Photo: NDTV

India has lodged a diplomatic protest with Pakistan following a collision between an Indian Navy warship and a Pakistani naval vessel in the North Arabian Sea on September 15, with New Delhi saying the incident occurred in international waters and involved unsafe manoeuvres by the Pakistani vessel.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian Navy ship was conducting a routine surveillance mission when the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and carried out what India described as unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvres, resulting in a minor collision.

Indian officials said the incident did not cause significant damage to the Indian warship. New Delhi subsequently summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a formal protest over what it described as the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel.

India also said the incident was contrary to the 1991 agreement between India and Pakistan on advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements. New Delhi specifically referred to provisions concerning the conduct of naval vessels operating in international waters.

Pakistan has rejected India’s account and offered a different description of the incident.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the collision occurred within Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while the Pakistan Navy was conducting its SEASPARK-26 exercise. Islamabad said an Indian naval vessel carried out aggressive and dangerous manoeuvres close to a Pakistani naval ship, resulting in contact between the vessels.

Pakistan summoned India’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a diplomatic protest, describing the alleged Indian manoeuvres as provocative and unacceptable. Islamabad also accused India of violating international law and the 1991 bilateral agreement.

Indian reporting has identified the Pakistani vessel involved as PNS Hunain, while Pakistan has identified the Indian warship as INS Kolkata.

The two countries therefore disagree over both the location of the incident and the circumstances that led to the collision. India maintains that the contact occurred in international waters during a routine surveillance mission, while Pakistan says it happened inside its EEZ during a naval exercise.

Both governments have called for their military forces to observe applicable international and bilateral arrangements to prevent similar incidents.

The collision has resulted in diplomatic protests from both sides, but the circumstances surrounding the contact between the two naval vessels remain disputed.