'Claim of Indian ship brushing Pak frigate false'

The Indian Navy on Saturday dismissed Pakistan's allegation that an Indian warship had brushed PNS Babar escorting MV Suez, a merchant vessel released by Somali pirates, saying the "reports of aggression" are "incorrect and based on misinformation".

"Reports of aggression by INS Godavari are incorrect and based on misinformation," a navy official said. The reaction came after Pakistan  lodged a protest with India on Friday over the alleged incident in which Indian warship INS Godavari was said to have brushed with a Pakistani frigate escorting MV Suez, an Egyptian-owned ship.

The protest was lodged through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad over the "serious incident" that allegedly occurred on Friday. The INS Godavari "not only hampered humanitarian operations being carried out by Pakistan Navy ship Babar for MV Suez but also undertook dangerous manoeuvres, which resulted in the brushing of the sides" of the two warships, the Pakistani officials alleged in a statement.

PNS Babar is escorting and assisting MV Suez, which was released by Somali pirates earlier this week after over $ 2 million was paid as ransom for its 22-member crew, including four Pakistanis and six Indians.

INS Godavari had been dispatched to escort MV Suez to Salalah in Oman but was pulled out after the merchant vessel under a Pakistani national did not respond to its call.