MEA calls Pakistani Naval ship’s conduct ‘unacceptable and unprofessional’, rejects allegations of collision

Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Pakistani naval ship had acted in an “unacceptable and unprofessional” manner, resulting in the collision.

India on Friday rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the collision between Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata and Pakistani naval vessel PNS Hunain in the western Arabian Sea, calling Islamabad’s response “usual prevarication”. Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Pakistani naval ship had acted in an “unacceptable and unprofessional” manner, resulting in the collision.

He added that INS Kolkata did not suffer any major damage and remains at sea.

“We have seen the Pakistan's response to the protest we have lodged. It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein. Let me reiterate the facts of the matter for you. INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the Western Arabian Sea when Pakistani naval ship Hunain conducted itself in an unacceptable and unprofessional manner at sea that resulted in a collision,” Jaiswal told reporters.

India cites 1991 agreement

Jaiswal said the incident involved a “dangerous overtaking manoeuvre” by PNS Hunain, which he said was in violation of Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement Between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements.

“The dangerous overtaking maneuver by PNS Hunain was in gross violation of Article 10 of the Agreement Between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements of 1991, which clearly specifies that naval units at sea are not to be within three nautical miles of each other,” he said.

According to the MEA, the Pakistani vessel also violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

“In addition, the Pakistani ship also infringed the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” Jaiswal said.

He added that Pakistan had once again been advised to ensure that its military units exercise due care and follow the relevant agreements between the two countries to avoid similar incidents.

“The incident did not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata, and she remains at sea,” he said.

India protests to Pakistan

The MEA’s latest remarks came after Pakistan accused an Indian naval ship of carrying out a provocative manoeuvre that led to the collision with PNS Hunain in the Arabian Sea.

On Wednesday, India summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the incident.

“The Charge d'Affaires of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today and a strong protest was lodged with him over the unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea that led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy,” the MEA said.

The ministry said the collision took place in international waters and did not cause any major damage. It maintained that the conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the April 1991 agreement between the two countries.

The Pakistani Charge d'Affaires was also asked to convey to the relevant authorities the need for military units to exercise due care and comply with existing agreements to prevent a recurrence.

“The Charge d'Affaires of India in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the MEA said.

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