Collision on the high seas: Pakistani vessel rams Indian Navy warship in Arabian Sea

New Delhi: An Indian Navy warship and a Pakistan Navy ship collided in the northern Arabian Sea on Tuesday (September 15) evening after the Pakistani vessel approached the Indian ship at high speed and maneuvered “unprofessionally and unsafely.” India has since raised the issue with Pakistan through diplomatic channels.

According to government sources, the Indian warship was on a routine surveillance mission in international waters when the Pakistani warship headed towards it. The two vessels subsequently collided.

According to sources, there was no damage as a result of the incident. The circumstances of the meeting and the movements of both vessels are being clarified by the authorities.

India responded to the maritime incident through diplomatic channels on Wednesday (September 16). Pakistan’s chief diplomatic representative in New Delhi was summoned by the Indian government and during the meeting, New Delhi raised questions about the conduct of the Pakistani vessel.

Indian officials called the Pakistani ship’s maneuvering “unprofessional and unsafe” and conveyed their objections to Islamabad. India has also reportedly urged Pakistan to take note of the incident and ensure that similar behavior does not happen again.

The diplomatic move follows India’s recent efforts to raise maritime security issues through official channels. New Delhi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and safe movement of ships in international waters.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was monitoring another attack involving the Panamanian-flagged commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman. There were 14 Indian nationals on board the ship, 13 of whom were rescued, and the search for one missing Indian sailor continued.

There has been a lot of naval and maritime activity in the Arabian Sea in recent months. The Indian Navy Information Center for the Indian Ocean Region regularly updates maritime security information covering developments in the region.

Pakistan National Hydrographic Authority also processes navigational warnings for NAVAREA IX, an area that includes parts of the North Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

The latest incident between India and Pakistan involves naval vessels operating in international waters and is not related to commercial shipping incidents reported elsewhere in the Arabian Sea.

India and Pakistan have a long history of military clashes, including incidents involving their navies and air forces. Both countries also maintain military communications channels to manage incidents involving their forces and prevent escalation at sea or along their borders.