India Summons Pakistani Envoy After Naval Warship Collision in Arabian Sea on September 15, Cites Article 10 Breach of 1991 Safety Agreement

India summoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires on September 16 after a Pakistan Navy ship collided with an Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea on the evening of September 15. The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest over what it called unacceptable and unprofessional conduct by Pakistani naval units that led to the collision with an Indian Navy vessel on routine surveillance mission in international waters. The collision took place when PNS Hunain, a Pakistani offshore patrol vessel, shadowed the Indian warship despite repeated warnings over Channel 16, the maritime radio channel for distress communication. The Pakistani vessel suddenly increased speed and crossed the Indian warship's bow from the starboard side, with the bow of the Pakistani ship brushing against the Indian vessel. There was no structural damage, no injuries, and no loss of capability on the Indian side, sources confirmed. The MEA stated that the conduct of the Pakistani naval ship was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements signed in April 1991. That article sets safety guidelines for naval vessels and submarines operating in international waters and requires Indian and Pakistani naval ships to maintain a distance of at least three nautical miles, or around 5.6 kilometers, from each other to prevent accidents. Ship logs now rule out sudden mechanical failure, steering malfunction, or emergency avoidance manoeuvre aboard the PNS Hunain, according to Indian government sources cited by News18. Sources revealed this was the second such incident in six months in the Arabian Sea, where Pakistani Navy warships have engaged in dangerous close manoeuvres near Indian Navy vessels conducting anti-piracy and surveillance missions near the Gulf of Aden. The Pakistani diplomat was asked to convey to the concerned authorities the need for all military units to exercise due car