Pakistani Naval Vessel Collides With Indian Warship in Arabian Sea, Delhi Summons Islamabad Envoy

Yugcharan News / 18-09-2026

New Delhi has summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires and lodged a strong diplomatic protest after a Pakistani Navy vessel collided with an Indian Navy warship in international waters in the North Arabian Sea. India described the conduct of the Pakistani naval unit as “unacceptable and unprofessional” and called for greater caution by military vessels to prevent a repeat of the incident.

The incident took place on the evening of September 15, when a Pakistani naval vessel approached an Indian frontline warship that was carrying out a routine surveillance mission. According to Indian sources, the Pakistani vessel was travelling at high speed and manoeuvring in a manner that led to the collision.

The incident occurred roughly 220 kilometres east of Oman, according to information reported by Indian media. Both vessels subsequently moved away from each other. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the incident occurred in international waters and that no major damage was reported.

The diplomatic response followed within a day, with Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Indian officials conveyed the government’s concerns over the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel and asked the diplomat to communicate the message to authorities in Islamabad.

India Cites 1991 Agreement

A key element of India’s protest was its reference to Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan concerning advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel was in direct contravention of the relevant provisions of the agreement. India told the Pakistani diplomat that military units on both sides should exercise due care and respect applicable bilateral arrangements.

The MEA also instructed India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move ensured that the diplomatic objection was formally communicated through both capitals.

The Pakistani diplomat reportedly remained at the Foreign Ministry’s Janpath office for around half an hour during the meeting.

What Happened at Sea

Details emerging from Indian sources indicate that the Pakistani naval vessel came close to the Indian warship while the latter was undertaking a routine surveillance mission.

The Indian side has described the Pakistani ship’s movement as high-speed and unsafe. Sources said the vessel did not maintain sufficient distance while passing the Indian warship, resulting in the two ships coming into contact.

NDTV reported that the Pakistani vessel was identified by sources as a Hunain-class corvette. The identity and class of the Indian warship were not disclosed in the initial reports.

The seas were reportedly rough when the incident occurred. Both vessels moved away after the encounter, and no major damage was reported by the Indian government.

Other reports have indicated that the Pakistani vessel involved was PNS Hunain. However, official details about the Indian vessel and a complete technical account of the collision have not been publicly released.

The available account is therefore largely based on Indian government statements and sources familiar with the incident. Any final assessment of how the collision occurred would depend on a fuller investigation and information from both sides.

Second Reported Naval Incident

The latest collision has also drawn attention because India and Pakistan have experienced a similar naval incident in the past.

In June 2011, Pakistan Navy’s PNS Babur and the Indian Navy’s INS Godavari were involved in a comparable encounter at sea. The 2026 incident has consequently revived concerns about the importance of maintaining adequate separation and exercising caution when naval vessels operate in proximity to each other.

Naval encounters are particularly sensitive because warships operate with sophisticated surveillance and weapons systems, and an unsafe manoeuvre can quickly create a serious security situation even when there is no intention to initiate hostilities.

The latest incident, however, did not result in any reported major damage and has so far remained primarily a matter of diplomatic protest and maritime conduct.

India Calls for Greater Caution

In its message to Pakistan, New Delhi emphasised the need for military units to follow relevant bilateral agreements and exercise due care.

The MEA said the Pakistani authorities should ensure that such an incident does not occur again. The Indian government’s decision to raise the matter through diplomatic channels indicates that it wants the incident formally recorded and addressed without allowing it to develop into a wider confrontation.

The Ministry’s statement also underlined that agreements between the two countries remain relevant even when military vessels are operating in international waters.

The reference to the 1991 agreement is significant because India and Pakistan have historically used bilateral arrangements to reduce the possibility of accidental escalation between their armed forces. Such mechanisms are particularly important during periods when political and military relations between the two neighbours are strained.

Incident Comes Amid Sensitive India-Pakistan Relations

The collision comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, making the maritime incident more sensitive than an ordinary naval accident.

The two countries maintain heavily equipped armed forces across land, air and maritime domains. The Arabian Sea is also an important operational area for both navies because of its proximity to major sea lanes, energy routes and strategic waters.

The fact that the incident occurred during a routine surveillance mission has added to the attention surrounding the episode. Indian sources have alleged that the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely, while the Pakistani side’s detailed account of the incident has not been publicly established in the material released so far.

It is therefore important to distinguish between India’s official diplomatic position and independently established facts about the exact sequence of manoeuvres. India has formally described the conduct as unacceptable and unprofessional, while the reported circumstances surrounding the collision remain subject to further clarification.

No Major Damage Reported

Despite the diplomatic protest, the incident did not result in reports of major damage to the Indian warship.

Initial reports said both vessels moved away following the encounter. The absence of major damage or casualties has helped prevent the episode from becoming a more serious operational crisis.

Nevertheless, even a limited collision between naval vessels can carry wider implications. Warships are expensive and highly specialised platforms, and an incident involving military vessels can create questions about communication, navigation, surveillance procedures and rules governing encounters at sea.

For India and Pakistan, those concerns are amplified by the wider political relationship between the two countries.

Diplomatic Channels Remain Active

India’s decision to summon Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires rather than announce any military response keeps the immediate handling of the incident within the diplomatic channel.

The Indian government has also directed its representative in Islamabad to raise the matter with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. This two-way diplomatic communication gives both governments an opportunity to establish their respective positions and address concerns surrounding the conduct of their naval units.

For now, the central issue raised by New Delhi is maritime safety and compliance with bilateral commitments. India has called on Pakistani military units to exercise caution and respect existing agreements, particularly after the collision in international waters.

The September 15 encounter is likely to receive continued attention as further information about the ships, their movements and the circumstances leading to the collision emerges. With no major damage reported, the immediate focus remains on diplomatic communication and preventing a similar incident from occurring again.