New Delhi, 16 September (H.S.): India has taken a firm position over the collision involving a Pakistani naval vessel and an Indian Navy ship, summoning the Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and lodging a strong protest. India described the incident as unacceptable and unprofessional conduct.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the incident occurred in international waters. Although the collision did not cause any major damage, the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel constituted a direct violation of Article 10 of the India-Pakistan Agreement of April 1991 concerning prior notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and movements of troops.

The Ministry made it clear to the Pakistan High Commission’s Chargé d’Affaires that the concerned authorities in Pakistan should be instructed to ensure that all military units exercise utmost caution to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future and strictly comply with the provisions of the bilateral agreements between the two countries. At the same time, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has also been directed to lodge a similar strong protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the incident.

It is noteworthy that on the evening of September 15, a Pakistani naval vessel approached at high speed and came extremely close to a frontline Indian Navy warship that was deployed on a routine surveillance mission in international waters in the North Arabian Sea. During the incident, the Pakistani vessel carried out manoeuvres in what India described as an unprofessional and highly unsafe manner, resulting in a collision between the two vessels. No major damage has been reported in the incident.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar