M A I N   N E W S

India, Pak in war of words over MV Suez
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

Pakistan’s complaint The Pakistan Navy complained to the Pakistan government to lodge a formal protest against the Indian Navy for carrying out ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ at high seas in the Gulf of Aden

India’s reaction The Indian Navy dismissed the allegation on Saturday saying the Pakistani naval warship PNS Babur violated relevant international and bilateral regulations on navigational safety

New Delhi, June 18
It would have been comic, if it had not been so serious and come days before the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad next week.

Last night it was the Pakistan Navy which complained and prompted the Pakistan government to lodge a formal protest against the Indian Navy for a ‘serious incident’ and carrying out ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ at high seas in the Gulf of Aden while on anti-piracy duties.

It was the Indian Navy’s turn to dismiss the allegation on Saturday. The Pakistani warship started it all, claimed Indian naval spokesmen. The Pakistan Naval Warship PNS Babur violated relevant international and bilateral regulations on navigational safety, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was told.

“PNS Babur by its risky manoeuvres jeopardised the safety of INS Godavari and its crew,’’ the External Affairs Ministry said. The Naval Adviser of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned to the Ministry of Defence and New Delhi’s serious concern on the incident was conveyed to him.

This came shortly after Pakistan protested over Indian Naval warship INS Godavari allegedly ‘brushing’ against the Pakistan Navy’s warship as it was escorting merchant vessel MV Suez on its journey towards Salalah in Oman. The MV Suez, an Egyptian ship, after its release by pirates last Monday is carrying 22 sailors including 6 Indians and 4 Pakistanis.

The Captain of INS Godavari, claimed Indian sources, had informed the Naval war room about the aggressive posture of the Pakistan warship on June 16 itself. ‘Brushing’, in naval parlance, does not mean physical contact or a collision between two ships. But if the horizontal distance between the two ships is less than 500 metres, it is classified as ‘brushing’. The seriousness of ‘brushing’ vary on the basis of speed, sea conditions and tonnage of the ships.

The two warships in this case are almost of similar size and tonnage. While INS Godavari has a 3600 tonne displacement and is 126 meters long, PNS Babur has a 3250 tonnes displacement and is 117 metres long. Both warships have a team of commandoes and choppers on board to launch them. The ships are equipped with surface-to-air-missiles and each of them carries some 275-300 crew trained to fight using weapons, missiles and guns.