India Rejects Pakistan's Allegations Over Warship Collision
Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared up again at sea following a collision between naval warships in the Arabian Sea on September 15. India on Friday strongly rejected Pakistan's allegations regarding the incident, stating that the Pakistani vessel carried out dangerous maneuvers that violated a 1991 bilateral naval agreement.
Following the collision, India summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires and lodged a strong protest over the unprofessional conduct of the Pakistani warship 'PNS Hunain'. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed Islamabad’s claims as usual prevarication, reiterating that INS Kolkata was on routine deployment when the incident occurred due to the Pakistani ship's reckless approach.
Violation of 1991 Maritime Agreement
Elaborating on the incident, the MEA noted that the Pakistani corvette closed in at high speed and violated Article 10 of the 1991 agreement on advance notice for military movements, which mandates maintaining a distance of three nautical miles. Furthermore, the vessel infringed international regulations for preventing collisions at sea.
"It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein. The Pakistan side has been advised to observe due care and respect relevant agreements." — Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson
Despite the high-speed collision, INS Kolkata sustained no major damage and remains operational at sea. Both nations continue to experience strained diplomatic ties following previous escalations, making this maritime incident a fresh point of concern.