India, Pakistani naval ships collide in international waters; MEA calls conduct 'unprofessional'

The ministry said the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was advised to convey to the concerned authorities (file photo)

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” of Pakistani naval units that led to a collision with an Indian Navy vessel in international waters.“While the incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage, the conduct of the Pakistani naval ship was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991,” the MEA said in a statement.The ministry said the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was advised to convey to the concerned authorities that all military units must exercise due care and comply with relevant agreements between the two countries.“The Charge d'Affaires of Pakistan was advised to convey to the concerned Pakistani authorities, the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents,” it said.

The MEA also said India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad had been instructed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs.

This is not the first time Indian and Pakistani ships have come into close contact in the Arabian Sea.In 2011, a diplomatic row had erupted over the MV Suez episode, then Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said Pakistani warship PNS Babur had come “much closer” than was prudent, damaging a helicopter net on INS Godavari. He said the Indian crew had acted “very professionally” and stressed that “there are clear rules of navigation at sea”.