1991 India-Pakistan Treaty Violated Following Naval Vessel Collision

Key Highlights & Summary

 • Diplomatic Demarche Issued: India summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to lodge a strong protest over the \'unacceptable and unprofessional conduct\' of a Pakistani naval vessel that collided with an Indian warship in international waters.  

• Direct Contravention of Article 10: India stated that the unsafe maneuvering by the Pakistani vessel directly violated Article 10 of the bilateral 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements.  

• Mandated Safe Distance: Article 10 of the 1991 pact strictly mandates that naval ships and submarines of both nations must maintain a separation buffer of at least 3 Nautical Miles (approx. 5.55 km) in international waters to prevent maritime accidents.  

• Historical Context of the Pact: Signed on April 6, 1991, as a key Confidence-Building Measure (CBM), the treaty aimed to eliminate military miscalculations following major border escalations like Exercise Operation Brass Tacks in 1987.  

• Recurrent Maritime Incidents: A similar safety violation occurred on June 16, 2011, when Pakistani warship PNS Babur brushed against Indian frigate INS Godavari during anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.  

• Mutual Advance Notifications: Beyond maritime safety, the agreement requires 15 to 90 days of prior notification for major land, air, and naval exercises near shared borders or Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). 

 Essential Definitions 

• Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs): Bilateral military or diplomatic agreements structured to enhance communication, reduce military ambiguity, and prevent unintended armed conflicts.  

• Nautical Mile (NM): A standard international unit of measurement used in maritime and air navigation, defined as precisely 1,852 meters (approx. 1.85 km).

• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone prescribed by the UNCLOS extending up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state\'s baseline, over which the state holds sovereign rights for resource exploration and management.  

Legal and Constitutional Framework

 • Article 10 of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement: Codifies specific operational parameters requiring naval units and submarines to maintain a minimum 3 NM clearance in high seas to ensure navigational safety.  

• UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982: Establishes international maritime legal norms governing territorial waters, high seas freedom of navigation, and collision prevention obligations. 

• Article 51(c) of Directive Principles (DPSP): Mandates that the State shall endeavour to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in dealings between organized nations. 

Conclusion Adherence to established Confidence-Building Measures like the 1991 agreement is vital for maintaining maritime stability in international waters. Unprofessional naval maneuvers risk escalating local tactical encounters into broader geopolitical confrontations, underscoring the urgent need for strict compliance with military protocols. 

 UPSC Relevance 

• GS Paper II (International Relations): India-Pakistan bilateral relations, Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), international treaties, and foreign policy demarches.  

• GS Paper III (Internal & Maritime Security): Maritime security challenges in the North Arabian Sea, UNCLOS standards, and defense preparedness against territorial/maritime provocations.