Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Pakistan Protests India After Warships Collide During Naval Exercise
Pakistan and India had a tense encounter at sea.
Pakistan said an Indian warship entered its maritime zone during a naval exercise.
It said the ship ignored warnings beginning on September 7.
Pakistan also said an Indian helicopter tried to enter the exercise area.
On September 15, the Indian ship INS Kolkata and Pakistan’s PNS Hunain collided.
Pakistan said its ship tried to move away to avoid the crash.
India described its operation as routine and accused the Pakistani vessel of violating part of a 1991 agreement.
Both countries’ accounts differ, and Pakistan has formally protested to India.
Pakistan accused INS Kolkata of entering its Exclusive Economic Zone and disrupting the SEASPARK-26 naval exercise.
Islamabad said the alleged intrusion began on September 7 despite warnings from Pakistani naval units.
Pakistan said INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain collided in the North Arabian Sea on September 15.
Pakistan claimed INS Kolkata made an aggressive manoeuvre before accelerating away from the area.
India maintained the deployment was routine and said the Pakistani vessel’s conduct violated Article 10 of a 1991 bilateral agreement.
- Who
- Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata, and Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain were involved.
- What
- Pakistan protested what it described as an Indian maritime-zone intrusion, interference with SEASPARK-26, and a subsequent collision between the two warships.
- When
- The alleged intrusion began on September 7, and the collision occurred on the evening of September 15, 2026.
- Where
- The incident occurred in the North Arabian Sea, including waters Pakistan identified as its Exclusive Economic Zone.
- Why
- Pakistan said INS Kolkata interfered with its naval exercise and violated maritime-security protocols; India said the Pakistani vessel’s conduct violated Article 10 of the 1991 bilateral agreement.
Pakistan’s Account
India’s Account
Nature of the deployment
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan said INS Kolkata and its shipborne helicopter repeatedly attempted to enter the designated SEASPARK-26 exercise area and adopted a hazardous posture despite warnings.
India’s Account
India characterized the operation as a routine deployment.
Cause of the collision
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan said INS Kolkata made an aggressive manoeuvre, collided with PNS Hunain, and then accelerated away after the Pakistani vessel attempted evasive action.
India’s Account
The article does not provide India’s detailed account of the collision, but says India asserted that the Pakistani vessel’s conduct contravened Article 10 of the 1991 agreement.
Agreement and maritime security
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan said India violated the 1991 agreement and described the incident as a deliberate threat to regional maritime stability and security protocols.
India’s Account
India asserted that the Pakistani vessel’s conduct directly violated Article 10 of the same 1991 agreement.
- Incident date
- September 15, 2026
- Location
- North Arabian Sea
- Indian vessel
- INS Kolkata, a guided-missile destroyer
- Pakistani vessel
- PNS Hunain, an offshore patrol vessel
- Naval exercise
- Pakistan’s biennial SEASPARK-26 exercise, underway since September 1
- Agreement cited
- 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements
- Diplomatic action
- Pakistan summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a formal protest