India-Pakistan tension at sea: Pakistani naval ship collides with Indian Navy vessel, diplomat summoned

PTC Web Desk: India has called in Pakistan's senior diplomat to lodge a strong protest after a Pakistani naval ship collided with an Indian Navy vessel in international waters. The incident happened on the evening of September 15, in the North Arabian Sea, according to sources.

The Indian Navy ship was carrying out a routine surveillance patrol when a Pakistani naval vessel sped toward it and crashed into it. Fortunately, the Indian warship escaped without any damage.

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India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not hold back in its response. In an official statement, it called the actions of the Pakistani naval unit "unacceptable and unprofessional." The ministry also pointed out that Pakistan's conduct broke the terms of a 1991 agreement between the two countries. This agreement, under Article 10, requires both nations to give advance notice before carrying out military exercises, manoeuvres, or troop movements at sea.

During the meeting, the Pakistani diplomat was told to pass on a clear message to his government — all military units must act with caution and stick to existing bilateral agreements so that such incidents don't happen again.

This latest naval incident adds to an already difficult chapter in India-Pakistan relations. The two neighbours have shared a complicated and often hostile history since independence in 1947, shaped by wars, border disputes and deep mutual suspicion.

Ties have grown especially tense since last year's Operation Sindoor, a major flashpoint that pushed relations between the two countries to one of their lowest points in recent memory. Since then, both sides have remained on edge, with periodic incidents along the border and at sea adding to the strain.

Diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Islamabad have often followed a familiar pattern, an incident occurs, envoys are summoned, strong statements are issued and tensions simmer without any real breakthrough. Issues involving fishermen straying across maritime borders, cross-border firing and now naval encounters have repeatedly tested the fragile peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Despite occasional attempts at dialogue over the decades, unresolved disputes, particularly over Kashmir, continue to cast a long shadow over bilateral ties. Every fresh incident, however small it may seem, tends to draw sharp reactions from both capitals, reflecting just how brittle the relationship remains.

For now, India has made its position clear: such conduct at sea will not be tolerated and Pakistan must ensure its forces follow established protocols to avoid any future flare-ups.