India Summons Pakistan Envoy Over Naval Collision in International Waters

New Delhi: India on Wednesday summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi to register a strong protest over the actions of Pakistani naval units that resulted in a collision with an Indian Navy unit. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the incident as “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct.”

Information was available with The Chenab Times that the encounter occurred in international waters and did not lead to significant damage. The MEA highlighted that the behaviour of the Pakistani naval ship was in direct contravention of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan concerning Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, specifically Article 10.

The Pakistani diplomat was conveyed the necessity for all military units to exercise caution and adhere strictly to the provisions outlined in existing bilateral agreements to avert future occurrences. New Delhi also informed Islamabad that India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad had been directed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The incident underscores the fragile maritime security environment and the importance of adherence to international norms and bilateral agreements governing naval activities. While the specifics of the encounter remain limited, the MEA’s strong reaction indicates a serious breach of protocol from India’s perspective.

Naval collisions, even in international waters, can escalate tensions between nations, particularly those with a history of complex relations. The 1991 agreement between India and Pakistan aims to foster transparency and prevent miscalculations by mandating advance notification of military exercises and troop movements. Such agreements are crucial for maintaining stability and avoiding unintended conflicts in shared maritime spaces.

The MEA’s statement emphasized the need for adherence to these agreements, signalling India’s commitment to de-escalation and peaceful resolution of maritime incidents. The summoning of the Pakistani diplomat and the lodging of a formal protest are standard diplomatic procedures to address such concerns and seek assurances against recurrence. The ministry’s stance suggests that while the incident might have been minor in terms of damage, the violation of established protocols was a matter of significant concern for India.

The international waters are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants freedom of navigation and overflight to all states. However, this freedom is balanced with the responsibility to exercise caution and avoid actions that could endanger maritime traffic or violate the rights of other states. The alleged unprofessional conduct of the Pakistani naval ship points to a potential disregard for these principles.

Following the incident, diplomatic channels have been activated to address the issue. India’s approach, by summoning the Pakistani envoy and directing its own envoy in Islamabad to lodge a protest, reflects a calibrated response aimed at addressing the alleged violation through diplomatic means. The focus remains on ensuring that such incidents are not repeated and that maritime activities are conducted in accordance with international law and bilateral understandings.

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