India invoked Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements after a Pakistani naval vessel collided with an Indian Navy vessel.
The agreement is a confidence-building measure (CBM) aimed at preventing military incidents arising from misinterpretation of intentions.
1991 Agreement: India and Pakistan agreed to provide advance information about military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements.
Objective: Reduce uncertainty and prevent escalation caused by misreading military intentions.
Covers land, naval and air forces.
Major naval exercise: Involves 6 or more destroyer/frigate-sized or larger ships, exercising together and entering the other country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Article 10: Naval ships and submarines of the two countries must maintain a minimum separation of 3 nautical miles while operating in international waters.
1 nautical mile ≈ 1.85 km.
Agreement permits either country to seek clarification regarding force assembly, direction, extent and duration of exercises.
Background
Brass Tacks (1987): Large-scale Indian military exercise near the Pakistan border, involving about 1.5 lakh troops, contributed to concerns about escalation.
The 1991 agreement followed earlier confidence-building measures, including:
1988 Agreement on Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities.
1988 Cultural Cooperation Agreement.
On 6 April 1991, India and Pakistan also signed an agreement concerning prevention of airspace violations and military aircraft overflights/landings.
