Post by : Badri Ariffin

India and Pakistan have summoned each other's senior diplomats following a collision between naval vessels in the Arabian Sea. The incident took place on Tuesday, with both countries blaming the other side and accusing it of violating a bilateral agreement signed in 1991.

The agreement, known as the Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, was introduced to help prevent misunderstandings between the two countries and reduce the risk of a crisis caused by the misinterpretation of military activities.

What happened in the Arabian Sea?

India said the collision involving the two naval vessels did not result in any major damage. However, Pakistan's statement did not clarify whether its naval vessel suffered any damage during the incident.

Both countries presented different accounts of what led to the collision. India described the conduct of the Pakistani naval unit as "unacceptable and unprofessional", while Pakistan accused the Indian vessel of carrying out what it called "highly provocative and unacceptable" actions.

India lodges protest with Pakistan

India's Ministry of External Affairs said it lodged a strong protest with the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

The Pakistani diplomat was asked to convey to the relevant authorities in Pakistan that military units on both sides must exercise proper caution and follow the provisions of existing agreements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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India also specifically accused Pakistan of violating Article 10 of the 1991 agreement.

Under Article 10, naval vessels and submarines belonging to the two countries are required to maintain a distance of at least three nautical miles from one another while operating in international waters. The provision is aimed at preventing accidents between the two sides.

Pakistan gives its account

Pakistan also summoned India's Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad and formally raised its objection over the incident.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Pakistan Navy was conducting its biennial exercise, SEASPARK-26, inside Pakistan's exclusive economic zone when the Indian naval vessel allegedly carried out "aggressive manoeuvres in dangerously close proximity" to the Pakistani ship.

Pakistan said the incident was a "highly provocative and unacceptable" action by the Indian naval vessel.

Islamabad also called on the international community to urge India to avoid what it described as irresponsible actions that could further destabilise South Asia.

Pakistan said the region could not afford to be held "hostage to India's reckless pursuit of conflict and instability."

What does the 1991 India-Pakistan agreement say?

The Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements was signed by India and Pakistan in 1991. Its stated purpose is to prevent a crisis resulting from one side misreading the military intentions or activities of the other.

The agreement includes provisions concerning military exercises and the movement of forces. India and Pakistan are now accusing each other of breaching its provisions in connection with Tuesday's naval incident.

Incident follows earlier India-Pakistan military confrontation

The naval collision comes more than a year after India and Pakistan carried out military strikes against each other before agreeing to a ceasefire.

The latest incident has once again led to diplomatic protests from both sides, with India and Pakistan maintaining different accounts of the circumstances surrounding the collision.

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