India-Pakistan Naval Tensions: What's Happening in the Arabian Sea?

Tensions between India and Pakistan have spilled into the maritime domain after naval vessels from the two countries collided in the North Arabian Sea, prompting diplomatic protests from both sides. The incident reportedly took place on September 15, 2026, during naval activity in the region. India and Pakistan have issued sharply different accounts of what led to the encounter, with each side accusing the other of unsafe or provocative manoeuvring.

According to India, an Indian Navy warship was conducting a surveillance mission when a Pakistani naval vessel approached at high speed and carried out what New Delhi described as unsafe manoeuvres. India subsequently lodged a formal protest with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Pakistan, however, has rejected India's account. Islamabad said the incident occurred within Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone while the Pakistan Navy was conducting its SEASPARK-26 exercise. Pakistani authorities accused the Indian vessel of making aggressive manoeuvres near its naval ship.

The two countries have also cited the 1991 India-Pakistan agreement concerning advance notification of military exercises and manoeuvres in support of their respective positions. The location of the incident has emerged as one of the key points of disagreement. Pakistan describes the area as being within its Exclusive Economic Zone, while India has maintained that the encounter occurred in international waters.

An Exclusive Economic Zone can extend up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coast and gives the coastal state specific economic rights. It does not, however, carry the same legal status as territorial waters, making the precise circumstances and location of a naval encounter important in determining the applicable legal framework.

The incident comes amid heightened security tensions between the two countries and increased naval activity across the Arabian Sea. The region is strategically important because it connects major commercial shipping routes with the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Both governments have moved to the diplomatic level following the confrontation. India summoned Pakistan's diplomatic representative in New Delhi, while Pakistan also lodged a formal protest through its diplomatic channels.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, there has been no indication that the collision has developed into a broader naval conflict. The immediate focus remains on the competing accounts, the circumstances surrounding the encounter and efforts to prevent further incidents at sea. The episode has nevertheless highlighted the risks involved when Indian and Pakistani military vessels operate in the same maritime region during a period of heightened tensions. Any further confrontation could create additional pressure on already strained bilateral relations.

The incident remains the subject of competing claims from New Delhi and Islamabad. Further details, including independent evidence about the vessels' movements and the circumstances immediately before the collision, will be important in establishing a clearer picture of what happened.