India has summoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi to lodge a formal diplomatic protest after a Pakistani naval vessel collided with an Indian warship in international waters in the Arabian Sea, according to a statement released by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday (September 16).

The collision, which occurred on Tuesday (September 15), marks the first direct military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since a four-day armed conflict in May 2025.

In its official communication, New Delhi categorized the incident as a consequence of "unacceptable and unprofessional behavior" by the Pakistan Navy. India noted that the maneuver violated a 1991 bilateral maritime agreement, which explicitly obligates both nations' naval vessels to maintain a minimum distance of three nautical miles from each other while operating in international waters.

The Indian government directed the Pakistani envoy to convey its firm protest to Islamabad, urging strict adherence to established maritime protocols to prevent future operational hazards.

The Pakistan Navy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not issued an immediate response regarding the incident.

Full ambassadorial representation between India and Pakistan has remained suspended since 2019, following Islamabad's decision to recall its High Commissioner after India revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Bilateral diplomatic missions in New Delhi and Islamabad have since been managed by interim Charges d'Affaires.

Source: Al Jazeera