NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI — India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly dismissed Islamabad’s counter-allegations following a maritime incident in the North Arabian Sea where a Pakistani naval vessel collided with an Indian warship. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized Pakistan's reply to New Delhi's official diplomatic protest, characterizing it as expected evasion while reiterating that the accident was caused entirely by dangerous manoeuvres from the Pakistani side.
Key Takeaways from the MEA Statement
Dismissal of Allegations: The MEA categorically rejected the counter-claims and insinuations raised by Pakistan, calling its formal response "the usual prevarication that we expected."
Violation of Bilateral Protocols: Spox Randhir Jaiswal stated that PNS Hunain’s conduct directly breached Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, which mandates that naval units maintain a minimum separation distance of at least three nautical miles.
Infringement of Maritime Law: The MEA noted that the maneuver violated International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), describing the operation as "unacceptable and unprofessional."
Status of the Vessels: The Indian Navy warship suffered no major structural damage or operational impairment and remains actively deployed on its surveillance mission at sea.
Formal Diplomatic Protest: New Delhi advised Islamabad that its military forces must exercise due caution and strictly observe existing bilateral safety accords to prevent dangerous recurrences in international waters.
