A Pakistan Navy vessel sustained significant damage after colliding with an Indian Navy warship in international waters of the North Arabian Sea on Tuesday evening, September 15. Sources indicate the Pakistani ship, identified as PNS Hunain (F-273), executed a high-speed maneuver described as both unsafe and unprofessional, leading to the collision.
Incident Details in the Arabian Sea
The collision occurred during a routine surveillance mission by the Indian warship. While PNS Hunain, a Yarmook-class offshore patrol vessel, suffered severe damage and returned to port, the Indian vessel reported no damage from the incident.
Sources close to the matter stated that despite extreme provocation from the Pakistani side, the Indian Navy captain demonstrated significant restraint, taking actions to prevent a more severe accident that could have resulted in substantial loss of life and property.
India Lodges Strong Diplomatic Protest
In response to the incident, India summoned Pakistan's Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi on Wednesday and formally lodged a strong protest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) characterized the conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea as unacceptable and unprofessional.
The MEA highlighted that the incident, while not causing major damage to the Indian vessel, was a direct contravention of Article 10 of the April 1991 agreement between India and Pakistan concerning Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements. The Pakistani diplomat was advised to convey to Islamabad the necessity for all military units to exercise due care and adhere to existing agreements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About PNS Hunain
PNS Hunain (F-273) is a modern multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel belonging to the Pakistan Navy. It is part of the Yarmook-class, based on the Damen OPV 2600 design, and was constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The vessel was launched in September 2023 and commissioned into service in July 2024. Its sister ship is PNS Yamama (F-274).
The vessel displaces approximately 2,600 tonnes, measures 98 meters in length with a beam of 14.4 meters, and boasts a range of about 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. Powered by four 2,350 kW diesel engines, it can achieve speeds of up to 24 knots. Reports suggest PNS Hunain is capable of carrying anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles.