India Rejects Pakistan’s Claims Over Naval Collision, Calls Response ‘Usual Prevarication’

India on Friday dismissed Pakistan’s allegations concerning the collision between Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata and Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain in the North Arabian Sea, describing Islamabad’s response as “usual prevarication.”

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, following which both countries lodged protests over the circumstances surrounding the collision.

India Rejects Pakistan’s Allegations

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said India had taken note of Pakistan’s response to its protest but rejected the allegations made by Islamabad.

“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,” Jaiswal said.

India had summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires on Wednesday and formally protested what it described as the “unacceptable and unprofessional” conduct of the Pakistani naval vessel.

Pakistan subsequently alleged that the Indian warship had undertaken a “highly provocative and unacceptable action” inside its Exclusive Economic Zone while Pakistan was conducting the SEASPARK-26 naval exercise.

According to India’s version of events, INS Kolkata was carrying out a routine surveillance mission when PNS Hunain approached the Indian warship and undertook what India described as a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. The manoeuvre allegedly resulted in the two vessels colliding.

Jaiswal said the Pakistani vessel’s actions were inconsistent with Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan agreement governing advance notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.

Under the agreement, naval units operating at sea are required to maintain a distance of at least three nautical miles in the circumstances covered by the provision, according to the Indian government’s account.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson also said the Pakistani vessel had violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which establish internationally recognised rules intended to prevent maritime accidents.

India advised Pakistan to take the necessary precautions and adhere to relevant bilateral agreements and international maritime laws with its armed boats after the incident.

According to Jaiswal, following these rules would be essential to preventing future occurrences of this kind.

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Susmita Modak

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Always love to raise the unraised matter. In a world of worries, I am always ready to come over my comfort zone and taking the step ahead of spreading awareness.

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