Pakistan corvette collides with Indian Navy warship, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• A Pakistan Navy corvette, PNS Hunain, collided with a frontline Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea.
• India stated the incident occurred in international waters due to PNS Hunain's "unsafe and unprofessional" maneuvering at high speed.
• India lodged a strong diplomatic protest, citing a 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.
• PNS Hunain sustained damage and returned to harbour, while the Indian vessel suffered minor damage and continued its mission, with no casualties reported.
• Pakistan also summoned India's Chargé d’affaires, protesting what it termed a "highly provocative" action within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Detailed Insights:

• The collision occurred while the Indian warship was on a routine surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea.
• PNS Hunain (F-273) is a Yarmook-class offshore patrol vessel, commissioned in July 2024 and built by Damen Shipyards in Romania.
• Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement mandates that naval ships and submarines of both nations must maintain a minimum distance of three nautical miles (approximately 5.56 km) from each other in international waters to prevent accidents.
• The 1991 Agreement serves as a crucial confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan, designed to reduce the risk of military misunderstandings.
• The incident underscores the ongoing naval presence of both countries in the Arabian Sea and the importance of adherence to international maritime protocols.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements (1991): A bilateral confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan to prevent military misunderstandings and unintended confrontations.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting sovereign rights over natural resource exploration and management.
• International Waters (High Seas): Areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction, governed by international law, where freedom of navigation and other freedoms apply to all states.