India Rejects Pakistan's Claims Over Arabian Sea Naval Collision (2026-09-18)
India has rejected Pakistan's allegations over a collision between INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain in the north Arabian Sea, saying the Pakistani vessel acted in an unprofessional manner.
India has firmly rejected Pakistan's allegations concerning a collision between a Pakistani naval vessel and an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea, calling the claims a familiar evasion of responsibility.
Responding to Pakistan's account of the incident, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had anticipated such a response. "We have seen Pakistan's response to the protest we had lodged. It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein," he told reporters at a regular briefing.
According to the Indian account, the incident occurred on the night of September 15, when the Pakistani ship PNS Hunain approached the frontline Indian warship INS Kolkata, which was carrying out a routine surveillance mission in the north Arabian Sea. Mr. Jaiswal said the Pakistani vessel's conduct was "unacceptable and unprofessional," resulting in the collision.
He described the Pakistani manoeuvre as a dangerous overtaking attempt that violated Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, which requires naval units at sea to maintain a distance of at least three nautical miles from each other. The Pakistani ship, he added, also breached the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry had earlier alleged that the incident followed a "highly provocative and unacceptable action" by the Indian vessel inside Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone.
New Delhi had summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires on September 16 and lodged a strong protest over what it termed the unacceptable conduct of the Pakistan Navy vessel. Pakistan has again been advised that all military units must exercise due care and respect the relevant bilateral agreements to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Mr. Jaiswal said the collision caused no major damage to INS Kolkata, which remains at sea.