Tensions between India and Pakistan have risen after naval vessels from the two countries collided in the northern Arabian Sea. The incident took place on September 15 in international waters and has now led to a diplomatic protest by India.

According to reports published by Indian officials, a Pakistani navy ship made an advance towards the Indian Navy warship that was performing an intelligence gathering exercise in the North Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy reported that the Pakistani ship advanced at an alarming speed and performed maneuvers which they termed as unprofessional and unsafe.

These maneuvers led to the collision between the two ships. The Indian officials reported that there was no serious damage reported due to this incident. No reports of any major injuries have been received thus far.

The names of the ships that were involved in the incident have not been disclosed yet. The collision took place in the international waters, making the incident a matter of concern for maritime safety as well as India-Pakistan relations.

India Summons Pakistan Envoy

Following the incident, India summoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi on September 16. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a strong protest over what it called the “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” of Pakistani naval units.

India asked the Pakistani diplomat to convey to the concerned authorities the need for military units to exercise due care at sea and respect existing bilateral agreements. New Delhi also instructed India's Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad to raise the matter with Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

1991 Agreement Mentioned

The Indian government has also referred to the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements. Indian officials said the conduct of the Pakistani naval unit was in contravention of Article 10 of the agreement.

The agreement is aimed at reducing the possibility of misunderstandings during military activities by establishing certain procedures and advance notifications between the two countries.

Pakistan Yet to Issue Response

As of September 16, there was no immediate public response from Pakistan to India's protest, according to reports. The Pakistani side has not yet publicly provided its account of how the collision occurred.

The incident comes at a time when India-Pakistan relations remain sensitive. Any incident involving military vessels can attract particular attention because both countries maintain significant military deployments in the region.

For now, the matter has moved through diplomatic channels, with India emphasizing caution at sea and compliance with bilateral agreements. Further statements from Pakistan could provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The incident highlights the importance of communication and careful manoeuvring between military vessels, particularly in waters where naval units from neighbouring countries operate. India and Pakistan will now face the task of addressing the issue through diplomatic channels while preventing similar incidents from occurring again.

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