New delhi: Pakistan and India lodged tit-for-tat protests following a naval encounter in international waters. According to Anadolu Agency, India summoned the Pakistani charge d'Affaires in New Delhi, registering a protest over the conduct of Pakistani naval units that led to a collision with an Indian Navy vessel. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the conduct as "unacceptable and unprofessional."

The incident unfolded in international waters of the Arabian Sea, an area shared by both nations. New Delhi stated that while the incident did not cause major damage, the actions of the Pakistani naval ship contravened Article 10 of an agreement between the two countries. The Pakistani diplomat was urged to ensure that military units observe due care and adhere to relevant agreements to prevent future incidents. Similarly, the Indian representative in Islamabad was instructed to convey a similar protest to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In response, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry reported lodging a strong protest with India. The Indian High Commission's charge d'affaires was summoned to receive Pakistan's protest over what Islamabad described as a "highly provocative and unacceptable action" by an Indian Navy vessel in Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Pakistan rejected what it termed as "belligerent Indian action" and urged India to adhere strictly to international law and bilateral agreements aimed at preventing incidents at sea.

The incident occurred during Pakistan Navy's SEASPARK-26 biennial exercise, during which the Indian vessel reportedly engaged in aggressive maneuvers in close proximity to a Pakistani naval ship, leading to contact between the vessels.

This naval incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who marked the first anniversary of their May cross-border conflict earlier this year. Diplomatic ties had been downgraded in 2019 after India removed the special status for the Jammu and Kashmir region.