India, Pakistan Navy ships come head-on in international waters: What exactly happened?
Updated on: Sep 16, 2026, 13:36:32 IST Edited by Nayanika Sengupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link India on Wednesday summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in New Delhi was to the Ministry of External Affairs, lodging strong protest over “unprofessional” conduct of Pakistan naval units that led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy.
File image: A view of the a vessel ahead of its commissioning into the Indian Navy on Aug 31 (@indiannavy X) The MEA said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage.
However, 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.
What exactly happened?
While the MEA described the incident as a collision, officials aware of the matter said that the episode involved a close-in manoeuvring by the Pakistani vessel, which approached the Indian warship at high speed and in an unsafe manner.
"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," the ministry said in the press release.
The Charge d'Affaires of India in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MEA said.
Such encounters involving naval warships are rare, particularly when vessels are operating on routine surveillance missions in international waters.
The incident marks the first such contact between Indian and Pakistani military assets since Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
India launched military strikes targetting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in May last year, retaliating to the Pahalgam attack in which terrorists, found to have links with Pakistan, opened fire at a tourist spot in the Jammu and Kashmir meadow of Baisaran, killing 26 civilians.
The terrorist attack took place on April 22, 2025.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nayanika Sengupta Nayanika is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, with over six years of experience in the digital media industry.
She specialises in delivering clear, insightful coverage across general, national, and international beats, with a strong focus on breaking news and in-depth explainers.
Known for her ability to decode complex developments, she enjoys unpacking layered political and policy issues into accessible, reader-friendly narratives that inform without overwhelming.
She has previously worked in India's leading newsrooms, including India Today, News18, and Outlook, where she chased news, covered major events of the past six years and led teams.
With a Master's degree in Political Science, Nayanika has a keen interest in international relations and global affairs.
Her academic grounding shapes her analytical approach to stories, enabling her to connect the dots between domestic events and broader geopolitical currents.
She is particularly drawn to stories that require context, nuance, and clarity - turning complicated subjects into compelling reads.
Outside the newsroom, Nayanika is a passionate gourmand who loves cooking and sharing meals with loved ones.
