Incident at Sea

India summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires over a collision between a Pakistani ship and an Indian Navy vessel on September 15. The collision involved the Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) Hunain and an Indian warship in international waters, about 120 nautical miles from the Gulf of Oman.

• India alleged the Pakistani vessel's conduct violated Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Maneuvers, and Troop Movements.
• The Indian vessel was on a routine surveillance mission, while Pakistan's Navy was conducting its biennial exercise SEASPARK-26.
• No damage was reported to the Indian vessel, while PNS Hunain sustained damage.
• A similar incident took place on June 16, 2011, involving PNS Babur and INS Godavari in the Gulf of Aden.

The 1991 Agreement

This agreement was created to prevent crises arising from misinterpretation of military intentions between India and Pakistan. It outlines rules for land, naval, and air forces regarding exercises and troop movements.

• It mandates advance notice for military exercises close to each other's territories.
• For naval forces, a major exercise is defined as involving six or more ships of destroyer/frigate size entering another's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Article 10 specifies that naval ships and submarines must not close less than three nautical miles from each other in international waters.
• For aircraft, certain distances must be maintained from each other's airspace.

Reason for Signing the Agreement

The agreement was a response to tensions and military activities that had heightened the risk of conflict between the two nations.

• It followed the large-scale military exercise Brass Tacks IV by India in 1987, which involved 150,000 troops.
• The exercise caused concern in Pakistan, leading to the need for mechanisms reducing uncertainty.
• The 1991 agreement requires advance notifications ranging from 15 to 90 days, depending on the size and type of exercise.

A related treaty regarding airspace violations and military overflights was signed on the same day as the 1991 agreement.