India, Pakistan trade blame and protests over navy collision

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan clashed over a naval collision on Wednesday, each nation summoning the other's top diplomats to lodge strong protests. Pakistan's foreign ministry claimed the incident occurred during a biennial exercise in its exclusive economic zone, while India argued it took place in international waters with no major damage.

A Pakistani naval ship reportedly closed in on an Indian warship during a routine surveillance mission, maneuvering in an unprofessional and unsafe manner. Conversely, India stated that a Pakistani vessel engaged in aggressive maneuvers in dangerously close proximity to one of its naval ships, leading to contact between the two vessels.

Both nations summoned each other's charge d'affaires, with India's foreign ministry issuing a statement condemning the "unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea." The Pakistani foreign ministry, in response, asked India to convey that Pakistan "strongly rejects this belligerent Indian action."

Pakistan urged the international community to call upon India to abandon its aggressive posture and refrain from irresponsible actions that could further destabilize South Asia. The deeply distrustful nuclear-armed nations have fought multiple wars since gaining independence in 1947, primarily over the disputed region of Kashmir. In May 2025, a deadly four-day conflict erupted after gunmen killed over two dozen tourists in Kashmir, with India blaming Pakistan, a charge Pakistan denied.