Pakistan summons Indian Cd'A to protest INS Kolkata warship’s ‘provocative’ manoeuvres in EEZ

Protests Indian naval manoeuvres in its EEZ, alleging violation of 1991 bilateral agreement in strong terms

The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday summoned the chargé d'affaires (Cd'A) of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and issued a demarche over a "highly provocative and unacceptable action" by an Indian naval vessel in Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), it emerged on Wednesday. 

A statement issued today by the FO said that while the Pakistan Navy was undertaking its biennial exercise SEASPARK-26 a day ago, the Indian vessel carried out "aggressive manoeuvres in dangerously close proximity" to a Pakistani naval ship, resulting in contact between the two vessels.

"The incident constituted a serious violation of international law and the bilateral agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements, 1991, and risked escalating tensions in the region." 

The FO said the Cd'A was asked to convey to the government of India that Pakistan "strongly rejects this belligerent Indian action".

It added that the Indian side was urged to adhere strictly to international law and bilateral agreements, particularly those aimed at preventing incidents at sea. 

"The Cd'A of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi will lodge the same demarche with India's Ministry of External Affairs.

"Pakistan urges the international community to call upon India to abandon its belligerent posture and refrain from irresponsible actions that could further destabilise South Asia. This region can ill-afford to remain perpetually hostage to India's reckless pursuit of conflict and instability," the FO said.

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Pakistan Lodges Strong Protest Over Indian Naval Provocation in its Exclusive Economic Zone

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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 16, 2026

Earlier, India summoned the charge d'Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi over the incident that led to a collision between their navies in international waters, according to an official statement from New Delhi.

A “strong protest was lodged with him over the unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea that led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy”, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in the statement.

The two nations share the waters of the Arabian Sea.

The Pakistani diplomat 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 ministry said, adding that the charge d'Affaires of India in Islamabad was also instructed to lodge a “similar protest” with the FO.

India and Pakistan this year marked the first anniversary of their May cross-border conflict, which ended with a ceasefire first announced by US President Donald Trump.

The two nuclear-armed nations downgraded diplomatic ties in 2019 after New Delhi removed special status for the Jammu and Kashmir region.