India, Pakistan naval ships collide in Arabian Sea; Delhi lodges protest

India summoned Pakistan's top diplomat in New Delhi following a naval collision between the two countries' vessels in international waters of the northern Arabian Sea. The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest over what it termed "unacceptable and unprofessional conduct" by Pakistani naval units. The collision occurred on Tuesday when a frontline warship from India was conducting a routine surveillance mission; a Pakistan Navy vessel approached at high speed, leading to the encounter.

Despite no major damage reported, India instructed its top diplomat in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. This incident marked a formal diplomatic dispute between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who rely on confidence-building arrangements to govern military contacts. The 1991 bilateral agreement requires naval ships and submarines to maintain a minimum distance of three nautical miles in international waters to prevent accidents.

India emphasized the need for both military units to respect these provisions to avoid recurrences. The episode, while not causing significant damage or casualties, highlighted how swiftly a security incident can escalate across domains, although no immediate retaliatory measures were announced by India.