NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” of Pakistani naval units that led to a collision with an Indian Navy vessel in international waters.“While the incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage, the conduct of the Pakistani naval ship was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991,” the MEA said in a statement.The ministry said the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was advised to convey to the concerned authorities that all military units must exercise due care and comply with relevant agreements between the two countries.“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,” it said.The MEA also said India’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad had been instructed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs.This is not the first time Indian and Pakistani ships have come into close contact in the Arabian Sea.In 2011, a diplomatic row had erupted over the MV Suez episode, then Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said Pakistani warship PNS Babur had come “much closer” than was prudent, damaging a helicopter net on INS Godavari. He said the Indian crew had acted “very professionally” and stressed that “there are clear rules of navigation at sea”.What the 1991 agreement saysThe 1991 India-Pakistan agreement lays down rules for advance notice of major military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.Under the agreement, the land, naval and air forces of both countries are to avoid major exercises close to each other. If such exercises are conducted within specified areas, the main force cannot be directed towards the other side and there should be no logistical build-up close to it.
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For land forces, exercises involving a division or larger formation are restricted within 5 km of specified areas along the International Border, Line of Control and the area between the Manawar Tawi and Ravi rivers. The agreement also requires advance notice for division-level exercises in designated areas, corps-level exercises within 75 km, and all exercises above corps level regardless of distance.
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For naval forces, an exercise involving six or more destroyer- or frigate-sized ships crossing into the other country’s EEZ is covered. Air-force exercises at regional command level or above also fall under the agreement.
