Archive · 16 Sep 2026
India-Pakistan Naval Collision Puts 1991 Article 10 Under Scrutiny
A Pakistani Navy ship and an Indian Navy ship collided at sea on September 15.
The meeting happened in international waters in the North Arabian Sea, near the Gulf of Oman.
India says the Pakistani ship was moving quickly and came too close.
India says this broke Article 10 of a 1991 agreement.
That rule says the two countries’ naval ships should stay at least three nautical miles apart.
The agreement was created to prevent military actions from being misunderstood and causing a bigger crisis.
India protested to Pakistani officials in New Delhi and Islamabad.
Indian sources said their ship had no major damage and continued its mission.
Other sources said the Pakistani ship was badly damaged, but Pakistan has not officially confirmed what happened.
PNS Hunain collided with an Indian Navy warship in international waters on September 15.
India said the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely during the encounter.
New Delhi said the incident directly contravened Article 10 of the 1991 bilateral agreement.
Article 10 requires Indian and Pakistani naval ships and submarines to remain at least three nautical miles apart in international waters.
Indian sources reported no major damage to their vessel, while sources said PNS Hunain returned to harbour with severe damage; Pakistan has not issued an official account.
- Who
- PNS Hunain and an Indian Navy warship were involved; India summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires Saad Warraich.
- What
- The vessels collided after India said PNS Hunain approached at high speed and manoeuvred unsafely.
- When
- The collision occurred on the evening of September 15; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- In international waters in the North Arabian Sea, about 120 nautical miles from the Gulf of Oman.
- Why
- India said the Pakistani vessel violated Article 10’s requirement that the countries’ naval vessels remain at least three nautical miles apart.
India’s account
Pakistan’s position
Cause of the collision
India’s account
India said PNS Hunain approached at high speed and manoeuvred in an unsafe and unprofessional manner, directly contravening Article 10.
Pakistan’s position
Pakistan had not issued an official statement explaining the collision or responding to India’s allegations.
Damage and handling
India’s account
Indian sources said the Indian warship suffered no major damage, injuries or operational loss, and that its captain exercised restraint to prevent a more serious accident.
Pakistan’s position
Sources familiar with the incident said PNS Hunain sustained severe damage and returned to harbour; Pakistan had not officially confirmed the vessel’s condition.
Nature of the incident
India’s account
Officials in New Delhi described the event as a breach of safety distances rather than a deliberate attack, while warning against a recurrence.
Pakistan’s position
No official Pakistani characterization of the incident was provided in the articles.
- Pakistani vessel
- Pakistan Naval Ship Hunain, or PNS Hunain.
- Indian mission
- The Indian warship was conducting a routine surveillance mission.
- Relevant agreement
- The April 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements.
- Article 10 requirement
- Naval ships and submarines from the two countries must not come within three nautical miles of each other while operating in international waters.
- Distance conversion
- Three nautical miles is approximately 5.56 kilometres.
- Reported damage
- Indian sources said the Indian vessel suffered no major damage, injuries or loss of operational capability; other sources said PNS Hunain sustained severe damage and returned to harbour.
- Diplomatic response
- India summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in New Delhi and instructed its chargé d’affaires in Islamabad to lodge a matching protest.
- Agreement’s purpose
- The pact was designed to reduce the risk of military activities being misread and to prevent accidents or crises.
