Indian Naval Warships scrambled after Pakistan and Indian Naval Vessels stand off in Indian Ocean
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KOLKATA: Two warships of the Western Fleet were scrambled from Mumbai on Friday after Pakistani naval vessels were detected close to Indian territorial waters, quoted the Times of India.
This happened hours after the stealth frigate INS Tarkash came in contact with Pakistani warships in international waters. INS Tarkash is one of three Indian warships that called on ports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"The INS Delhi, INS Deepak and INS Tarkash berthed at several ports in the UAE including Dubai, Bahrain and Muscat. On their return back home While sailing in international waters close to a fleet of Pakistani warships and was asked to back off," a source in the Navy said.
"This is sort of a cat and mouse game. The Pakistani warships may have followed INS Tarkash as she headed back towards Mumbai. The Pakistani ships were picked up as they approached Indian territorial waters and the two warships set off from Mumbai to herd them off, should they get too close.
All countries engage in such prowling close to the territorial waters of neighbours. We keep on getting similar contacts from Chinese warships in the Bay of Bengal," the source added.
This is not the first time that Pakistani and Indian Naval Ships have a stand off in the Indian Ocean.
In coming days and months such kinds of incidences are likely to occur more frequently as Indian Navy is extending out it influence in the Indian Ocean to counter the Pakistani and as well as Chinese influence in the region.
