New Delhi: A tense situation arose at sea when an Indian ship and a Pakistani vessel came face-to-face, resulting in a collision in international waters. India has summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi following this incident, which was caused by the unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires was summoned on Wednesday, and a strong protest was lodged. India’s High Commissioner in Islamabad has also been instructed to register a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What did the Ministry of External Affairs say?
The Indian MEA stated that the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel constituted a direct violation of Article 10 of the 1991 agreement between India and Pakistan regarding prior notification of military exercises, manoeuvres, and troop movements.
Under this 1991 agreement, both nuclear-armed neighbours are required to provide advance notice of military activities and exercise caution at sea to prevent untoward incidents during exercises and patrols. India asserted that the collision violated these established norms.
India issues a warning to Pakistan.
Officials in New Delhi emphasised that while the incident did not result in major damage, the behaviour of the Pakistani vessel was unprofessional, and they warned against any recurrence of such events.
The Chargé d’Affaires was also advised to convey to the relevant Pakistani authorities that all military units must exercise caution and adhere to the provisions of the agreements between the two nations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Why has this incident raised concerns?
It is worth noting that this incident occurred at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain consistently tense. The reason for this is Islamabad’s support for cross-border terrorism in India. Since independence, the two countries have fought several wars and have frequently come close to conflict, and their navies often operate in the Arabian Sea.
