INS Kolkata Was On Routine Patrol, Pak Vessel Conduct Wrong: MEA, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• An Indian Navy warship, INS Kolkata, and a Pakistani Naval Ship, PNS Hunain, were involved in a collision on September 15 in the North Arabian Sea.
• India's Ministry of External Affairs stated PNS Hunain conducted itself in an "unacceptable and unprofessional manner" leading to the incident.
• The collision occurred approximately 120 nautical miles from the Gulf of Oman during a routine deployment of INS Kolkata.
• India lodged a strong protest, citing violations of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991 and International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• Pakistan countered, alleging INS Kolkata made "aggressive maneuvers" in Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) during their SEA-SPARK-26 exercise.

Detailed Insights:

• INS Kolkata is a frontline destroyer of the Indian Navy, deployed for routine patrols in the western Arabian Sea.
• PNS Hunain is identified as an offshore patrol vessel, often categorized as a Yarmook-class corvette.
• Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement mandates naval units of both countries to maintain a distance of at least 3 nautical miles from each other in international waters.
• The incident highlights ongoing maritime tensions and the need for adherence to international maritime laws and bilateral agreements.
• Both nations summoned each other's Charge d’Affaires to lodge formal protests, indicating the diplomatic fallout of the incident.
• The North Arabian Sea is a strategically important maritime corridor for global trade and energy supplies.
• Pakistan claimed the incident occurred within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) during its biennial naval exercise, SEA-SPARK-26.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991: A bilateral accord to prevent accidental military escalation by ensuring transparency in military activities.
• International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs): Global rules established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to govern safe navigation and prevent collisions at sea.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, extending 200 nautical miles from its baseline.