‘Usual Prevarication’: India Rejects Pakistan’s Claim Over ‘Dangerous’ Naval Collision In Arabian Sea

Last Updated:September 18, 2026, 16:49 IST

Both India and Pakistan had summoned top diplomats following the collision of INS Kolkata and Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain in the Arabian Sea

Both India and Pakistan summoned top diplomats following the collision of INS Kolkata and Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain in the Arabian Sea (File image: ANI)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Pakistan’s allegations linked to the recent collision of two naval vessels in the Arabian Sea, stating it was an “expected prevarication”.

The statement comes days after both India and Pakistan summoned top diplomats following the collision of INS Kolkata and Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain in the Arabian Sea.

“We have seen Pakistan’s response to the protest we had lodged. It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein”, said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.

Jaiswal said that INS Kolkata, the lead ship of the Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy, was on a routine deployment when the collision occurred.

“Let me reiterate the facts of the matter. INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the western Arabian sea when Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain conducted itself in an unacceptable and unprofessional manner at sea that resulted in a collision”, he said.

The spokesperson said PNS Hunain violated Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991.

“The dangerous overtaking manoeuvre by PNS Hunain was in gross violation of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991, which specifies that naval units at sea are not to be within 3 nautical miles of each other. In addition, the Pakistani ship also infringed the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.”

Jaiswal said that the incident had not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata.

“The Pakistan side has once again been advised about the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents.

The incident did not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata and she remains at sea.”

India-Pakistan Tensions 

The collision came a little over a year after India and Pakistan exchanged strikes after ‘Operation Sindoor’, New Delhi’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 which had killed 26 people.

The terror attack saw India adopt a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and expulsion of Pakistan diplomats among others.

In its statement, India said it had lodged a strong protest with the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi over “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” of the naval unit.

“The Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan was advised to convey to the concerned Pakistani authorities, the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents,” according to a statement by the MEA.

On the same day, Pakistan also summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires and lodged its complaint against what it called a “highly provocative and unacceptable” action by India’s naval vessel.

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What caused the recent naval collision between India and Pakistan in the Arabian Sea?

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the collision occurred when INS Kolkata was on routine deployment and Pakistan Naval Ship Hunain engaged in an unacceptable, unprofessional, and dangerous overtaking maneuver. India stated that the Pakistani ship violated Article 10 of the 1991 military exercises agreement and international collision-prevention regulations.

Which specific naval vessels were involved in the Arabian Sea collision?

The maritime incident involved INS Kolkata, a Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, and the Pakistani Naval Ship Hunain.

Did the naval collision in the Arabian Sea cause significant damage to INS Kolkata?

No, the incident did not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata, and the Indian warship remains deployed at sea.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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