India-Pakistan navy ship collision sparks fears of unintended escalation

Indian and Pakistani naval vessels collided on Tuesday in the Arabian Sea, the first direct military encounter between the nuclear-armed neighbours since their four-day conflict in May 2025. Pakistan says an Indian warship entered its exclusive economic zone during its biennial SEASPARK-26 exercise, while India says the collision occurred in international waters. Both countries summoned each other's diplomats and lodged protests; no video or track data has been released, and analysts warn of the risk of unintended escalation given depleted military and diplomatic contacts.