New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi on Wednesday to lodge a strong diplomatic protest over the collision of a Pakistani naval vessel with an Indian Navy unit in international waters. Indian authorities characterized the incident as a consequence of unacceptable and unprofessional conduct by Pakistani naval units operating at sea, noting that while the contact occurred in international maritime zones, it did not result in major damage to the Indian warship.
New Delhi pointed out that the actions of the Pakistani vessel stood in direct violation of Article 10 of the bilateral April 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres, and Troop Movements. The Pakistani envoy was instructed to convey India’s serious concerns to Islamabad, with the MEA stressing the critical need for all military elements to exercise caution and adhere strictly to bilateral maritime protocols to avoid future mid-sea confrontations. India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad has also been directed to lodge a corresponding diplomatic demarche with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
