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India lodges protest after warship collision with Pakistan

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 6:15 AM UTC · How we work

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Accusations of gap breach

An Indian Navy warship and a Pakistani Navy offshore patrol vessel collided in the northern Arabian Sea on 15 September 2026.
India and Pakistan each blamed the other for breaching the 1991 naval separation agreement that requires a three-nautical-mile gap.
The Indian navy said its vessel was on a routine surveillance mission.
Pakistan asserted its ship was conducting the SEASPARK-26 exercise.
Both ministries reported no major damage and no announced military response.

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First clash since 2025

On 15 September 2026, an Indian Navy warship collided with a Pakistani Navy offshore patrol vessel in the Arabian Sea.
India summoned Pakistan’s charge d’Affaires in New Delhi, lodged a formal protest, and sent a protest to Islamabad, while Pakistan gave no immediate reply.
The accusation said Pakistan breached the 1991 naval agreement and acted unprofessionally.
It is the first military clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a 2025 four-day war.

History

Historical Context

During the December 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, the Indian Navy’s three missile boats sank a Pakistani destroyer, crippling Karachi’s naval capacity and establishing a de-facto blockade. That conflict left unresolved maritime protocols, and the 2026 collision between INS Kolkata and PNS Taimur revived those historic tensions, prompting fresh diplomatic protests and calls for confidence-building measures.

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Accusations of gap breach

An Indian Navy warship and a Pakistani Navy offshore patrol vessel collided in the northern Arabian Sea on 15 September 2026.
India and Pakistan each blamed the other for breaching the 1991 naval separation agreement that requires a three-nautical-mile gap.
The Indian navy said its vessel was on a routine surveillance mission.
Pakistan asserted its ship was conducting the SEASPARK-26 exercise.
Both ministries reported no major damage and no announced military response.

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