Pakistan Navy Ship PNS Hunain Collides With Indian Warship in Arabian Sea, Delhi Protests

Pakistan Navy vessel collides with Indian warship

A Pakistan Navy ship collided with an Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea on Tuesday evening, September 15, during what Indian officials described as a routine surveillance mission.

According to sources cited by The Times of India, the Pakistani vessel approached the Indian warship at high speed and manoeuvred in an unsafe manner before the collision. The Pakistani vessel was identified as PNS Hunain, a Yarmook-class corvette. Indian sources said the Indian warship did not suffer damage, while PNS Hunain reportedly sustained severe damage and later returned to harbour.

India summons Pakistan diplomat

The incident has now become a diplomatic issue. India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over what it described as the “unacceptable and unprofessional” conduct of Pakistani naval units.

New Delhi also asked its Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to raise the matter with Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

India said the incident was contrary to provisions of the April 1991 bilateral agreement concerning advance notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements. Reporting on the agreement has also highlighted provisions concerning separation between the two countries’ naval vessels in international waters.

Collision adds to India-Pakistan tensions

The latest encounter is significant because Indian and Pakistani military forces operate in close proximity in the region, where an unexpected manoeuvre involving warships can create serious safety risks.

The two countries have previously experienced naval friction. In 2011, Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Babur came into contact with Indian Navy frigate INS Godavari in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in a diplomatic dispute.

The latest incident occurred in international waters and comes amid broader tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. Pakistan had not publicly provided its version of the collision in the reporting available at the time of publication.

Key Takeaways

• PNS Hunain collided with an Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea on September 15.
• Indian sources said the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely.
• PNS Hunain reportedly suffered severe damage and returned to harbour.
• India said its warship suffered no reported damage.
• New Delhi summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires and lodged a formal protest.
• India cited the 1991 bilateral agreement governing military movements and maritime conduct.
• Pakistan’s detailed account of the incident had not emerged in the available reporting.

Why This Matters

The collision highlights the risks involved when Indian and Pakistani naval vessels operate in the same maritime area. While the reported incident did not result in major casualties or damage to the Indian warship, the diplomatic protest shows that New Delhi is treating the encounter as a serious breach of expected military conduct. Further statements from Pakistan could provide additional details about the circumstances leading to the collision.