A minor collision between an Indian Navy warship and a Pakistan Navy vessel occurred in the North Arabian Sea on September 15, 2026, in international waters. Following the incident, India summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong diplomatic protest.
Indian and Pakistani Naval Ships Collide in North Arabian Sea
According to Indian officials cited by The Indian Express, the Pakistani naval vessel approached an Indian warship at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely, resulting in the collision. The incident occurred approximately 120 nautical miles from the Gulf of Oman.
What Happened?
The Pakistani vessel involved was identified as PNS Hunain, an offshore patrol vessel of the Pakistan Navy.
According to Indian sources:
- PNS Hunain approached an Indian Navy frontline warship at high speed.
- The Pakistani vessel allegedly failed to manoeuvre safely and in time.
- This resulted in a minor collision between the two vessels.
- PNS Hunain sustained damage and subsequently headed towards its home port.
- No damage was reported to the Indian Navy warship.
- The Indian vessel continued its routine surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea.
The incident took place in international waters, rather than inside the territorial waters of either country.
India Summons Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires
Following the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi.
India lodged a strong protest, describing the conduct of the Pakistani naval units as unacceptable and unprofessional. The MEA also instructed the Pakistani diplomat to communicate to the concerned authorities the importance of exercising due care and following the relevant bilateral agreements.
India also directed its Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Violation of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement
A key issue in the incident is Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements.
The agreement contains provisions intended to reduce the possibility of misunderstandings and accidental escalation between the armed forces of the two countries.
Article 10 specifically states that naval ships and submarines belonging to the two countries should not approach closer than three nautical miles from each other while operating in international waters, in order to prevent accidents.
India stated that the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel was in direct contravention of this provision.
Why Is the 1991 Agreement Important?
The agreement was developed as a confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan.
It provides mechanisms for advance notification and communication regarding certain military exercises and troop movements. Its broader purpose is to reduce the risk that military activities by one country could be misunderstood by the other.
The agreement covers aspects involving the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries. It also includes provisions relating to distances and safety during military operations.
International Waters and Territorial Waters
The reported collision occurred in international waters in the North Arabian Sea.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a country’s territorial sea generally extends up to 12 nautical miles from its coast. An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) can extend up to 200 nautical miles, within which a coastal state has specific economic rights, particularly concerning natural resources.
Therefore, the location of an incident in international waters does not mean that naval vessels are free from navigational or bilateral safety obligations.
Previous India-Pakistan Naval Incident
The latest incident has been compared with a 2011 encounter involving Indian and Pakistani naval vessels.
On June 16, 2011, Pakistan Navy’s PNS Babur came into close contact with the Indian Navy frigate INS Godavari in the Gulf of Aden. The incident caused minor damage to the Indian vessel’s helicopter safety net.
India subsequently lodged a formal protest over the incident.
