Pakistan has lodged a strong protest over the intrusion of an Indian Navy warship, INS Kolkata, into Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), accusing the vessel of carrying out provocative manoeuvres close to Pakistan Navy ships.
The incident marks the latest escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following their four-day military confrontation last year, which ended with a ceasefire after raising concerns about a broader conflict.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, the Pakistan Navy has been conducting its Sea Spark-26 exercises in the country’s EEZ since September 1.
He said Indian naval vessels and helicopters had made repeated attempts to enter the area designated for the exercises since the beginning of the month.
The spokesperson said INS Kolkata conducted “dangerous and provocative manoeuvres” near Pakistani naval vessels and continued its actions despite repeated warnings from the Pakistan Navy.
Khan said the Indian warship’s activities amounted to a “clear violation” of the 1991 bilateral agreement and could not be treated as part of routine naval deployment.
He further said that on September 15, INS Kolkata “dangerously changed course” and collided with Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain.
