India on Friday rejected Pakistan’s allegations over a collision involving a Pakistani naval vessel and Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata in the Arabian Sea. New Delhi said it had already summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest over what it described as the Pakistani vessel’s “unacceptable conduct” that resulted in the incident.

According to the Indian government, the collision occurred on Tuesday night when Pakistani naval ship Hunain moved close to INS Kolkata. The Indian warship was carrying out a routine surveillance mission in the northern Arabian Sea at the time. Pakistan presented a different account and alleged that the incident followed a “highly provocative and unacceptable action” by the Indian vessel inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Responding to Islamabad’s statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected Pakistan’s allegations. He said, “We have seen Pakistan's response to the protest we had lodged. It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein.”

Jaiswal said INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea when PNS Hunain acted in an “unacceptable and unprofessional manner”. He said the Pakistani naval ship’s actions resulted in the collision.

The MEA spokesperson said the Pakistani vessel carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, which was a gross violation of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements signed in April 1991. The provision states that naval units at sea should not remain within three nautical miles of each other.

Jaiswal also said PNS Hunain violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. India has advised Pakistan to ensure that all military units exercise due care and follow the relevant bilateral agreements. New Delhi said such measures are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The government also clarified that the collision did not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata. The Indian Navy warship remains at sea and continues its deployment.

India’s response came after Pakistan rejected New Delhi’s protest and accused the Indian vessel of acting provocatively in its maritime zone. New Delhi has dismissed those allegations and maintained that the Pakistani naval vessel’s manoeuvre led to the collision.