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

New Delhi summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat on September 16 to protest a collision between naval units from the two nations in international waters of the Arabian Sea. The Indian Foreign Ministry stated that the Pakistani navy’s unprofessional and unsafe conduct led to a collision with an Indian naval ship, resulting in no major damage. The incident occurred late the previous day during a routine surveillance mission, according to a senior Indian official.

The foreign ministry instructed Pakistan’s envoy to inform Islamabad of the necessity for all military units to respect the agreements between the two countries to avoid future incidents. India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed rivals, have a tense relationship, having fought multiple wars since gaining independence in 1947, primarily over the disputed Kashmir region.

They also maintain tens of thousands of soldiers along their heavily militarized border. In May 2025, a deadly four-day conflict erupted after gunmen killed over two dozen tourists, mostly Hindus, in Kashmir; India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denied.