INS Kolkata-PNS Hunain Incident and the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement
On 15 September 2026, a maritime incident occurred in international waters of the North Arabian Sea involving Indian Navy destroyer INS Kolkata and Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain. India lodged a diplomatic protest asserting that the Pakistani ship conducted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre. India alleged that the manoeuvre violated Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements and International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). Article 10 mandates that naval ships and submarines avoid approaching within less than 3 nautical miles (approx. 5.56 km) of each other in international waters. Pakistan has disputed India's account, alleging responsibility lay with the Indian vessel.
With reference to the 1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements, consider the following statements:
- The agreement applies strictly to land-based army movements and airspace, containing no naval provisions.
- Under Article 10 of the agreement, naval ships and submarines of both nations operating in international waters should avoid approaching within less than 3 nautical miles of each other.
- The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) were established under the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?