Indian warship rammed by Pakistani naval vessel

• India summoned the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires (CDA) Saad Warraich and lodged a strong protest over unacceptable conduct by a Pakistan Navy vessel that led to a collision with a frontline warship of the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea.

• A Chargé d’Affaires is a diplomat who serves as the temporary or permanent head of a diplomatic mission when an ambassador is not present. 

• The Pakistani diplomat was advised to convey to the Pakistani authorities concerned 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.

• On the evening of September 15, a Pakistani Navy vessel closed in on a frontline Indian Navy warship that was on a routine surveillance mission in the north Arabian Sea at high speed.

• The incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage.

• The MEA said 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, 1991.

• The agreement was signed in New Delhi on April 6, 1991.

• The agreement recognises that India and Pakistan need to give advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements so that the other side does not misread intentions and a crisis situation does not arise. 

• Both countries agreed that their land, naval and air forces would avoid holding major exercises in close proximity to each other. 

• If such exercises are conducted, the main force should not be directed towards the other side, and there should be no logistics build-up close to it.

• According to Article 10, naval ships and submarines of one country should not come within three nautical miles of the other country’s naval vessels or submarines in international waters.