New Delhi: India has rejected Pakistan’s reply to the diplomatic protest raised after a collision between Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata and Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain in the North Arabian Sea.
MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had expected Pakistan’s response and categorically rejected the allegations and insinuations made by Islamabad.
According to Jaiswal, INS Kolkata was on routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea when PNS Hunain allegedly made what India said was an unacceptable and unprofessional manoeuvre, resulting in the collision.
Jaiswal said that the Pakistani vessel’s dangerous overtaking manoeuvre amounted to a violation of Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements. Under it, naval units at sea should not come within 3 nautical miles of each other.
India also alleged the Pakistani vessel violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Pakistan had been advised to ensure that its military units exercise due caution and follow relevant bilateral agreements to avoid such incidents in the future, MEA said.
The collision occurred on September 15 in the North Arabian Sea and has triggered a diplomatic spat between the two countries.
Pakistan has given a different story - the Indian warship conducted aggressive manoeuvres in close proximity to its navy. Pakistan also said its navy was conducting the Sea Spark-26 exercise at the time of the incident.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan Navy vessel collides with Indian warship, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen Pakistan's response to the protest we lodged. This is the same old stalling we expected. We categorically reject the allegations and insinuations… pic.twitter.com/sa41GlaFUB
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2026
The incident has attracted attention because the two vessels have different roles and sizes. INS Kolkata is a Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer weighing about 7,400 tonnes, while PNS Hunain is an offshore patrol vessel of around 2,600 tonnes, according to reports.
Pakistani reports and images show PNS Hunain suffered significant damage and returned to harbour for repairs.
India, however, has claimed that INS Kolkata did not suffer any major damage and is still at sea.
The incident is also at a time of heightened diplomatic sensitivities between Delhi and Islamabad. Both sides have different accounts of what happened on the collision, but the focus is maritime safety, international regulations and avoiding any other incidents involving military vessels in the area.
India has said increased caution by military units at sea is needed to prevent a recurrence.
The MEA’s recent statement also reiterated New Delhi’s position that relevant bilateral agreements and international maritime rules should be respected during naval operations.
