Indian and Pakistani naval vessels collide in Arabian Sea amid disputed location

Indian and Pakistani naval vessels collided in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, prompting both nations to summon each other's senior diplomats on Wednesday. India's Ministry of External Affairs said the collision occurred in international waters during a routine surveillance mission by the guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata, and that it caused no major damage. Pakistan's Foreign Office claimed the Indian vessel entered Pakistan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and made a dangerous course change that resulted in contact with the offshore patrol vessel PNS Hunain during Pakistan's biennial SEASPARK-26 naval exercise. Both countries accused the other of violating the 1991 Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements agreement, which requires warships to maintain at least three nautical miles' separation in international waters.

India's Foreign Ministry characterized Pakistani conduct as "unacceptable and unprofessional," while Pakistan described the Indian action as "highly provocative and unacceptable." Pakistan's statement asserted that the Indian vessel had attempted to enter the exercise area repeatedly since September 7 before the collision on September 15. India countered that the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and maneuvered unsafely, and advised Pakistan's charge d'affaires that all military units must observe bilateral agreements to prevent future incidents.

The collision marks the first direct military encounter between the nuclear-armed neighbors since a four-day military conflict in May 2025, which involved air strikes and missile exchanges before a ceasefire. Analysts expressed concern about the risks of unintended escalation, noting that India and Pakistan lack comprehensive military-to-military communication mechanisms to manage such incidents. The two nations downgraded diplomatic relations in 2019 over the Kashmir dispute and have conducted all official business through charges d'affaires rather than ambassadors since then. A similar naval incident occurred in June 2011 when Pakistani frigate PNS Babur and Indian frigate INS Godavari made contact in the Gulf of Aden; each side blamed the other then as well, and the dispute subsided within weeks.