Context
- Recently, India summoned Pakistan’s envoy after a Pakistani naval vessel collided with an Indian warship in the North Arabian Sea, with New Delhi terming the manoeuvre unsafe and citing a violation of the three-nautical-mile provision under the 1991 India–Pakistan maritime pact. No major damage was reported
About the 1991 Agreement
- Military Exercises: Major exercises near each other’s territory should be avoided; where conducted, they must follow prescribed rules and be notified in advance
- Advance Notice: 15 days for specified air and naval exercises, 60 days for corps-level exercises and 90 days for army-level exercises
- Information Sharing: Either side can seek details on the force assembly, direction, scale and duration of an exercise
- Major Naval Exercise: Defined as an exercise involving six or more destroyer- or frigate-sized combat vessels operating together and entering the other country’s EEZ
- Article 10: Naval ships and submarines of both countries must maintain a minimum distance of 3 nautical miles from each other while operating in international waters to prevent accidents
- Aircraft Separation: Combat aircraft must maintain a 10-km separation from each other’s airspace, including Air Defence Identification Zones (ADIZs)
- Special Provision: A 5-km separation applies to aircraft operating from specified airfields, including Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar and Suratgarh in India and Pasrur, Lahore, Vehari and Rahimyar Khan in Pakistan
Q. With reference to the 1991 India–Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, consider the following statements:
1. Under Article 10 of the agreement, naval vessels and submarines of both nations must maintain a minimum separation distance of 3 nautical miles from each other in international waters to prevent accidents.
2. For all types of land, naval, and air force exercises, a mandatory advance notification period of 90 days must be provided.
3. Combat aircraft operating from specified airfields such as Jammu, Pathankot, Lahore, and Pasrur are required to maintain a separation distance of 5 km from each other's airspace.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 10, naval ships and submarines of both countries are mandated to maintain a minimum distance of 3 nautical miles from each other while operating in international waters to prevent accidents.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Advance notice requirements vary by scale and type of exercise—15 days for specified air and naval exercises, 60 days for corps-level exercises, and 90 days specifically for army-level exercises.
• Statement 3 is correct: A special provision under the pact mandates a 5-km airspace separation for aircraft operating from specified airfields, including Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Suratgarh in India, and Pasrur, Lahore, Vehari, and Rahimyar Khan in Pakistan.