Archive · 17 Sep 2026
India, Pakistan Exchange Protests After North Arabian Sea Collision
An Indian navy ship and a Pakistani navy ship touched or collided at sea.
The incident happened on September 15, 2026, in the North Arabian Sea.
India said its ship was doing a normal surveillance mission.
India said Pakistan’s ship acted unprofessionally.
Pakistan gave a different account of what happened.
Pakistan said the Indian ship moved dangerously close during a naval exercise.
India described the area as international waters, while Pakistan said it was inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Both countries protested by summoning the other side’s diplomatic representative, and neither ship was reported to have major damage.
An Indian Navy warship and a Pakistan Navy vessel collided on September 15, 2026, in the North Arabian Sea.
India said the incident occurred during a routine surveillance mission and called the Pakistani naval unit’s conduct unacceptable and unprofessional.
Pakistan said the collision happened during its SEASPARK-26 exercise and blamed aggressive Indian manoeuvres near its vessel.
The two countries gave differing accounts of the location, with India’s account describing international waters and Pakistan identifying its Exclusive Economic Zone.
India and Pakistan each summoned the other country’s diplomatic representative, while no major damage was reported to either vessel.
- Who
- An Indian Navy warship, a Pakistan Navy vessel, the governments of India and Pakistan, and their diplomatic representatives.
- What
- The two naval vessels collided, prompting India and Pakistan to issue competing protests and summon each other’s diplomatic representatives.
- When
- September 15, 2026; Pakistan’s protest was issued the following day, according to the article’s account.
- Where
- The North Arabian Sea; India described the waters as international, while Pakistan said the incident occurred within its Exclusive Economic Zone. The diplomatic representatives were summoned in New Delhi and Islamabad.
- Why
- India said the Pakistani naval unit behaved unacceptably and unprofessionally; Pakistan said the Indian vessel made aggressive manoeuvres dangerously close to its ship during exercise SEASPARK-26.
India’s account
Pakistan’s account
Cause of the collision
India’s account
India said the incident followed the unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of a Pakistani naval unit.
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said the Indian vessel carried out aggressive manoeuvres in dangerously close proximity to its ship, resulting in contact.
Location of the incident
India’s account
India’s account placed the collision in international waters of the North Arabian Sea.
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said the incident occurred within Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Operational context
India’s account
India said its warship was conducting a routine surveillance mission.
Pakistan’s account
Pakistan said its navy was conducting the biennial exercise SEASPARK-26.
- Incident date
- September 15, 2026
- Location
- North Arabian Sea
- Location dispute
- India’s account: international waters; Pakistan’s account: Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone
- Vessels
- An Indian Navy warship and a Pakistan Navy vessel
- Pakistan’s exercise
- Biennial naval exercise SEASPARK-26
- Damage
- No major damage was reported to either vessel
- Diplomatic response
- India summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi; Pakistan summoned the Indian High Commission’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad
