What is Article 10? 1991 Pact at the Center of India-Pakistan Naval Ship Collision – Explained | Today’s news
India on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan against the “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” of a Pakistani naval vessel that collided with an Indian Navy warship in the North Arabian Sea.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires Saad Warraich was summoned to the ministry and informed about India’s concerns.
The MEA said the incident took place in international waters and did not cause any major damage.
India said the Pakistani vessel maneuvered in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner” that led to the collision.
New Delhi specifically cited Article 10 of the April 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notification of Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements, saying the Pakistani naval ship’s behavior was in “direct violation” of the provision.
What does the India-Pakistan Pact of 1991 say?
The agreement was signed in April 1991 as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan.
Its broader purpose was to reduce the risk of misinterpretation of military activities and to establish advance warning rules and mechanisms for military exercises, maneuvers and troop movements.
While much of the agreement deals with military exercises and movements, it also contains provisions to prevent dangerous collisions between military platforms.
The key provision in the current dispute is Article 10, which specifically deals with naval ships and submarines operating in international waters.
It states: “Naval ships and submarines belonging to the other country are not to close within less than three nautical miles (NM) of each other to avoid any accident while operating in international waters.
The provision requires naval ships and submarines belonging to India and Pakistan to maintain a minimum distance of three nautical miles — roughly 5.56 kilometers — from each other when operating in international waters.
The incident occurred on the evening of September 15 when the Indian Navy warship was conducting a routine surveillance mission in the North Arabian Sea, Hindustan Times reported.
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The Pakistani vessel was said to have approached at high speed and maneuvered in a manner that India considered unsafe.
The MEA said Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires has been advised to convey to the relevant authorities the need for all military units to exercise due diligence and adhere to the provisions of existing India-Pakistan agreements to prevent a recurrence.
India also directed its chargé d’affaires in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Why Article 10 matters
Article 10 is essentially an anti-collision and confidence-building provision.
The three nautical mile requirement creates a defined buffer between Indian and Pakistani naval vessels operating in international waters.
With tensions rising between the two nations, the idea is to prevent close encounters from escalating into accidents or more serious clashes that could lead to military conflict.
This becomes particularly significant when naval vessels operate in the same maritime area.
This is not the first India-Pakistan maritime incident involving Article 10
2011 incident involving INS Godavari
On 16 June 2011, the Indian Navy warship INS Godavari and the Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Babur came into contact in the Gulf of Aden while both were engaged in operations around the merchant ship MV Suez, which was released after being seized by Somali pirates.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, INS Godavari approached MV Suez to establish communication and check the safety of its crew.
Both vessels touched and caused minor damage to the safety net on board the Godavari helicopter.
India subsequently lodged a formal protest citing the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement.
