NEW DELHI: India has rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding a collision between the Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata and the Pakistani Navy’s ship PNS Hunain in the western Arabian Sea. India described Islamabad’s response to its objection as an attempt to sidestep the matter.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has taken note of Pakistan’s response, but has clearly rejected the allegations and insinuations from the Pakistani side.
India Lays Out the Circumstances of the Collision
Jaiswal said INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea when PNS Hunain allegedly acted in a manner that India described as unacceptable and unprofessional, causing the two naval ships to collide.
According to the MEA spokesperson, the manner in which the Pakistani ship overtook violated Article 10 of the 1991 agreement on advance notice regarding military exercises, manoeuvres, and troop movements between India and Pakistan.
Under this rule, naval units operating at sea must maintain a distance of at least 3 nautical miles from each other. Jaiswal further said the Pakistani ship’s actions were also in violation of international rules for preventing collisions at sea.
Bi-Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (September 18, 2026)
https://t.co/xIschKdYC4— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 18, 2026
India has advised Pakistan to ensure that its military units exercise greater caution while operating at sea and to abide by the relevant bilateral agreements to prevent such incidents in the future. Jaiswal also clarified that INS Kolkata did not suffer any major damage in the incident and remains at sea.
Concern Over Red Sea Security
Speaking on the deteriorating security situation in the Red Sea, Randhir Jaiswal said India is deeply concerned about the rising tensions in the region. He said India has condemned attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign territory, including civilians and financial infrastructure. The MEA spokesperson also referred to India’s statement regarding an attempted attack on Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.
According to Jaiswal, such attacks pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and could also affect freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial maritime route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. India has described the situation as unacceptable and expressed hope that peace and stability will return to the region at the earliest.
