India-Pakistan naval collision: Know causes, India’s response; which seas, commands and maritime zones are involved?

A maritime collision involving Indian and Pakistani naval vessels in the North Arabian Sea on September 15 has caused a diplomatic protest from India. 

In response to this, India today summoned Pakistan’s top diplomatic representative in New Delhi to object against an “unprofessional and unsafe” manoeuvre, as regarded by the Indian government

Circumstances of the maritime collision

The incident occurred near Gwadar, where two larger Indian naval vessels were monitoring the Pakistani naval operation, during which a smaller Pakistani ship approached the Indian vessels at high speed and tried to ram them, which led to a collion, according to top Indian government sources.

The collision has directed attention to naval safety, naval operating areas and the bilateral protocols designed to evade dangerous encounters between the two countries. 

India regarded the manoeuvres as “unacceptable and unprofessional”. Reports quoting the MEA said there was no massive damage to the vessels. 

Which Sea and Maritime Zone Were Involved?

The incident unfolded in the North Arabian Sea, a strategically important maritime zone connecting the Indian Ocean with the nearby stretch leading to the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. India said the collision occurred in international waters, — the area which is outside the sovereignty of either country. 

International waters are different from a country’s territorial sea, which under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea roughly extends up to 12 nautical miles from its baseline. Beyond this, coastal states can have other maritime rights, including an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but an EEZ does not provide a coastal state full sovereignty equivalent to territorial waters.

Which Naval Commands Are Relevant?

In India, the Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai, is the navy’s primary command overseeing maritime operations along India’s western seaboard and the Arabian Sea.

BREAKING

India summons Pakistan's top Diplomat in Delhi after Pakistani naval units action led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy in international waters pic.twitter.com/zzTioO6jqf

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 16, 2026

For Pakistan, Karachi is the main naval and maritime centre which houses the National Hydrographic Office and Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre, which supports naval safety and security missions in the North Arabian Sea. 

India’s Response to the Collision

India has raised the incident through diplomatic channels. On September 16, the MEA summoned Pakistan’s Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over what it regarded as the conduct of Pakistani naval units. India also ordered its representative in Islamabad to escalate the issue with Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. 

India has also referred to the 1991 India-Pakistan agreement on advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements, with the MEA stating that the collision breached Article 10 of that deal. 

Pakistan’s Stance on the Maritime Incident

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has underscored respect for international law and the UN Charter in latest statements, but those statements do not specifically establish the country’s stand on the naval collision.