Pakistan issued a formal protest on Wednesday, condemning what it called a “highly provocative and unacceptable” manoeuvre by an Indian Navy vessel inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone on September 15, 2026.
The episode marks the first open military friction between the two nuclear-armed neighbours since last year’s intense four-day conflict, which had stoked fears of a broader regional war before a ceasefire brought it to a halt.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said in a statement that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d’affaires of the Indian high commission in Islamabad to formally register Pakistan’s objection.
What Happened During SEASPARK-26
According to the Foreign Office, the incident took place while the Pakistan Navy was in the middle of its biennial exercise, SEASPARK-26. Officials said the Indian vessel executed aggressive manoeuvres in dangerously close range of a Pakistani naval ship, ultimately leading to physical contact between the two vessels.
Khan described the move as a clear breach of international law, as well as a violation of the 1991 bilateral agreement governing Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements. He warned that such actions carry the risk of escalating tensions across the region.
Pakistan’s charge d’affaires told his Indian counterpart that Islamabad firmly rejects what it termed a “belligerent” act, and pressed India to strictly observe international law along with existing bilateral arrangements meant to prevent maritime incidents.
Pakistan Seeks International Attention on the Issue
Separately, Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi is set to deliver an identical protest note directly to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Islamabad also appealed to the global community to press India into abandoning its “belligerent posture,” urging New Delhi to steer clear of reckless actions that could further destabilise South Asia. The Foreign Office added that the region cannot remain “perpetually hostage” to what it characterized as India’s persistent pursuit of conflict and instability.
Backdrop: The 2025 Pakistan-India Conflict
This latest Pakistan India Navy protest comes roughly a year after a much larger confrontation between the two countries. India struck several Pakistani cities on May 6 and 7, 2025, following a terrorist attack in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.
Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, a large-scale military response that targeted multiple Indian installations. During the fighting, Pakistan downed eight Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones.
The confrontation stretched on for nearly 87 hours before the United States helped broker a ceasefire between the two sides on May 10, 2025, averting a wider escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals.