The collision between Indian and Pakistani naval vessels in the Arabian Sea raises a question that extends beyond the immediate dispute over responsibility: how secure is the fragile peace between two nuclear-armed neighbours when even routine military operations can become sources of confrontation? More than a year after India and Pakistan exchanged military strikes before agreeing to a ceasefire, the incident exposes the limitations of a peace sustained without a corresponding restoration of trust.

The diplomatic engagements initiated by India in Delhi and Islamabad demonstrate how quickly a maritime encounter can acquire political significance. Yet diplomatic protests, however strongly worded, cannot substitute for mechanisms that prevent such encounters from escalating. The 1991 agreement on advance notification of military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements reflects an important recognition: military preparedness need not inevitably produce confrontation if each side understands the other’s intentions. Its provisions governing the proximity of naval vessels in international waters are particularly relevant when warships operate in an environment where miscalculation can have consequences far beyond the immediate encounter.

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