New Delhi (India) September 17: India summoned the top Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi to register its protest over the unacceptable and unprofessional action by Pakistani naval ships which resulted in the collision with an Indian Navy ship.

“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.

India Seeks Military Caution

The ministry said the Pakistani Charge d'Affaires was informed that he should tell the authorities concerned that all military units should take necessary precautions and observe all the agreements made 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 Charge d'Affaires of India in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," it added.

Encounters between naval warships like this are not common, especially when ships are on standard surveillance. This was the first such interaction between Indian and Pakistani military vessels since May 2025.

1991 Pact Sets Naval Rules

India and Pakistan signed the agreement on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements, 1991. The Agreement aims at avoiding the outbreak of an accidental military conflict.

This is an agreement between the land, sea and air forces of the two countries. It commits the two sides to abstain from significant military activities near each other and stipulates guidelines for military transport. It further states that ships and submarines of the two countries would stay three nautical miles apart when in international waters to avoid accidents.

"Their Land, Naval and Air Forces will avoid holding major military manoeuvres and exercises in close proximity to each other. However if such exercises are held within distances as prescribed in this Agreement, the strategic direction of the main force being exercised will not be towards the other side, nor will any logistics build up be carried out close to it," the agreement said.

Earlier Collision In Gulf Of Aden

This is not the first such incident. Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Babur had, in June 2011, approached Indian Navy frigate INS Godavari at fast speed in the Gulf of Aden. The Pakistani vessel then executed a maneuver that caused it and the Indian warship to scrape against each other. 

The contact broke the helicopter safety net aboard INS Godavari. Both ships were in the Gulf of Aden conducting anti-piracy operations in the wake of the release of merchant vessel MV Suez that had Indian crew aboard.