ISLAMABAD: Just a week ahead of Foreign Secretaries’ meeting
scheduled for June 23-24, an Indian naval ship brushed its side with
PNS Babur that was on humanitarian mission last night.
Considering
Thursday night’s incident as “serious” wherein the INS Godavari
undertook dangerous maneuvers to hamper PNS Babur’s operations, the
Foreign Office Friday lodged a strong protest with the Indian
government.
“A protest was lodged with the Indian government
through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on a serious incident
on 16 June 2011,” stated an official handout of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
“Indian Navy Ship Godavari not only hampered
humanitarian operations being carried out by Pakistan Navy Ship Babur
for Merchant Vessel Suez but also undertook dangerous maneuvers,” it
said. “(The maneuvers) resulted in the brushing of the sides of INS
Godavari and PNS Babur,” it added.
According to the FO
spokesperson, PNS Babur was escorting and assisting MV Suez which had
been released after captivity by Somali pirates.
This incident
constitutes a serious violation of international regulations pertaining
to safe conduct at high seas and of the India-Pakistan Agreement of
1991 on Advance Notice of Military Exercise Maneuvers and Troops
Movements, the FO maintained. The Indian government has been asked to
ensure non-recurrence of such incidents, it added. Online
