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More than one Pakistani naval vessel may have been involved in an incident in the North Arabian Sea in which a frontline Indian Navy warship was subjected to high-speed manoeuvres, according to reports. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has described the conduct of Pakistani naval units as “unacceptable and unprofessional” and lodged a formal protest with Islamabad.
Capt D K Sharma, a former Navy PRO who has commanded warships, said such encounters could be part of efforts by Pakistani naval officers to enhance their credentials.
“Any effort that embarrasses or damages India probably has the backing or encouragement of the powers that be, regardless of what damage their own ship may incur in the process,” he said.
Sharma said similar conduct had been witnessed in a 2011 incident involving the Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Godavari and the Pakistani frigate PNS Babur.
At the time, Godavari was closing in on the hijacked vessel MV Suez when PNS Babur approached from the rear at high speed in rough seas. The manoeuvre damaged the extended safety net on the Indian warship’s helicopter deck.
Pakistani video clips of the incident reportedly showed sailors aboard Babur cheering, which Sharma cited as an indication of the attitude underlying such encounters.
The latest incident and the 2011 episode raise questions about the operational risks involved in aggressive manoeuvring at sea, particularly when the possibility of serious damage to the Pakistani vessel itself cannot be discounted.
India has formally protested the latest incident, citing provisions of the 1991 agreement governing advance notice of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.
“While the incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage, the conduct of the Pakistani naval ship was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements of April 1991,” the MEA said.
The Ministry added that Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires had been advised to convey to the relevant authorities the need for all military units to exercise due care and respect bilateral agreements.
“The Chargé d’Affaires of Pakistan was advised to convey to the concerned Pakistani authorities the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents,” the MEA said.
India’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Team BharatShakti
