New Delhi, 18 September (H.S.): India has categorically rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding the collision between an Indian warship and a Pakistani naval vessel in the Arabian Sea. India has also warned Pakistani military units against any recurrence of such an incident in the future.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during Friday’s media briefing, responded to Pakistan’s statement on the incident. He said India had seen Pakistan’s response and described it as consistent with what he called the neighbouring country’s tendency to evade responsibility. India, he said, categorically rejected the allegations made by Pakistan.

Pakistan had claimed that the collision occurred because of what it described as a provocative and unacceptable action by an Indian vessel in Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone.

Jaiswal reiterated that INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea. He said the Pakistani naval vessel PNS Hunain behaved in an unacceptable and unprofessional manner at sea, resulting in the collision. He clarified that INS Kolkata did not suffer any major damage in the incident and remains operational at sea.

According to Jaiswal, the Pakistani vessel was carrying out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, which he said was contrary to military agreements between India and Pakistan. These agreements stipulate that naval units of the two countries should not come within three nautical miles of each other. He also said the Pakistani vessel violated international rules intended to prevent collisions at sea.

The incident took place on September 15, when INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain collided in the Arabian Sea. Following the incident, India summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires and lodged a strong protest, expressing serious concern over what it described as the unacceptable conduct of the Pakistani vessel. Pakistan, in response, maintained that the collision was caused by provocative and unacceptable action by the Indian vessel within Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone.

The incident is being viewed as significant because India and Pakistan signed an agreement in April 1991 aimed at preventing misunderstandings and accidents arising from military activities. Article 10 of the agreement contains specific provisions concerning the operation of naval vessels and submarines in international waters.

Under the provision, naval vessels of the two countries are required to maintain a separation of at least three nautical miles from each other to reduce the risk of accidents. Three nautical miles are approximately 5.56 kilometres.

The provision has also been referred to in earlier official records of the Government of India. Consequently, India’s objection in the present case concerns not only the collision itself but also its contention that the Pakistani vessel failed to follow the bilateral framework established for the safe operation of naval vessels in international waters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar