India Rejects Pakistan’s Claims Over Arabian Sea Naval Collision
A naval collision involving an Indian Navy warship and a Pakistan Navy vessel in the North Arabian Sea has led to a fresh diplomatic exchange between the two countries. The incident took place on September 15, 2026, when Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain came into contact with Indian Navy destroyer INS Kolkata. India has rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding the incident and maintained that the Pakistani vessel’s unsafe manoeuvring led to the collision.
Collision During Routine Indian Naval Deployment
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, INS Kolkata was carrying out a routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea when PNS Hunain approached the Indian warship at high speed. Indian officials said the Pakistani vessel subsequently carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, resulting in the collision.
India has stated that INS Kolkata did not suffer any major damage and continued its operational deployment. Reports also indicate that PNS Hunain sustained damage in the incident and returned towards port.
The Indian account describes the incident as a maritime safety issue rather than an intentional confrontation. New Delhi has emphasised that naval vessels operating in close proximity are expected to follow established navigation procedures and maintain appropriate distances.
India Invokes the 1991 Bilateral Agreement
A key part of India’s response has been its reference to the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements. The agreement was established as a confidence-building mechanism to reduce the possibility of misunderstandings between the armed forces of the two countries.
India has specifically cited Article 10, under which naval ships and submarines are required to maintain a minimum separation of three nautical miles while operating in international waters. New Delhi has said the manoeuvre attributed to PNS Hunain was inconsistent with this provision as well as international regulations concerning the prevention of collisions at sea.
The reference to the agreement is significant because such arrangements are intended to establish predictable conduct between military forces, particularly when vessels from neighbouring countries operate in the same maritime region.
Pakistan Presents a Different Account
Pakistan has disputed India’s version of the incident and presented a different account of what happened. Islamabad has alleged that the Indian warship carried out aggressive manoeuvres near PNS Hunain.
Pakistan has also said that the collision occurred within its Exclusive Economic Zone while its Navy was conducting the SEASPARK-26 exercise. Following the incident, Pakistan summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires and lodged a formal diplomatic protest.
These allegations have been rejected by New Delhi. India maintains that the incident occurred in international waters and that its warship was carrying out a routine deployment when the Pakistani vessel approached it.
India Responds Firmly to Islamabad
India responded to Pakistan’s allegations on September 18, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejecting Islamabad’s claims and reiterating New Delhi’s account of the incident.
Jaiswal said INS Kolkata was on routine deployment and that PNS Hunain had conducted what India described as an unsafe manoeuvre. India also reiterated that its warship suffered no major damage and remained at sea.
New Delhi has further stressed that all military units should exercise due care and respect existing bilateral agreements and international maritime regulations so that similar incidents can be avoided in the future.
Importance of Maritime Safety
The incident highlights the importance of professional navigation and established maritime protocols when military vessels operate in proximity. Naval ships conduct surveillance, exercises and routine deployments across strategically important waterways, making adherence to international navigation rules essential for reducing the possibility of accidents or misunderstandings.
For India and Pakistan, the 1991 bilateral agreement provides an additional framework for preventing potentially dangerous encounters between their military forces. The latest incident has once again brought attention to the importance of such confidence-building arrangements.
India Maintains Operational Continuity
Despite the collision, the Indian Navy’s operational deployment continued. Reports indicate that INS Kolkata remained at sea without major damage, while the Pakistani vessel was reported to have sustained damage and subsequently returned towards harbour.
The differing accounts from the two sides mean that the circumstances surrounding the collision remain disputed. However, India has consistently maintained that its naval vessel was conducting a routine mission and that the incident resulted from the unsafe approach and manoeuvring of PNS Hunain.
The MGMM Outlook
The collision between INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain highlights the importance of strict adherence to established maritime safety procedures, particularly when naval vessels from neighbouring countries operate in the same waters. India’s reference to the 1991 bilateral agreement and international maritime regulations underlines the need for predictable and responsible conduct at sea. The fact that INS Kolkata continued its deployment without major damage also reflects the continuity of India’s naval operations despite the incident.
The differing accounts presented by India and Pakistan show that the circumstances of the collision remain disputed. India has consistently maintained that INS Kolkata was on routine deployment and that the incident followed an unsafe manoeuvre by PNS Hunain. Regardless of the competing claims, the episode reinforces the importance of professional navigation, adequate distance between military vessels and established communication mechanisms to prevent accidents from developing into broader tensions.
(Sources: Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, India Today)
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