Pakistan has barred Indian flag carriers from entering its ports and ordered Pakistani vessels to avoid Indian docks, a retaliatory move that followed New Delhi’s sweeping ban on imports and port access for ships from the neighbouring country in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India would take “firm and decisive” action against terrorists and their backers, Islamabad enforced reciprocal maritime restrictions. The measures were announced late Saturday by Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Ports and Shipping Wing, according to Dawn newspaper.
“In view of the recent development of maritime situation with neighbouring country, Pakistan in order to safeguard maritime sovereignty, economic interest and national security enforces following measures with immediate effect: Indian flag carriers shall not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port, Pakistani flag carriers shall not visit any Indian port (and) any exemption or dispensation shall be examined and decided on case to case basis,” the order stated.
The diplomatic fallout follows the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead in Jammu and Kashmir, an incident India squarely blamed on Pakistan-backed terrorists. The incident has sharply deteriorated bilateral relations.
India’s latest retaliatory actions, which took effect Saturday, include a total ban on imports from Pakistan — including goods routed through third countries — as well as restrictions on the movement of ships, parcels and mail. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued an order barring Pakistani ships from entering Indian ports and prohibiting Indian vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.
According to officials, the measures were enforced on grounds of national security and public policy. Though direct imports from Pakistan had already become negligible following India’s imposition of a 200 per cent duty post the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, this new decision closes any remaining indirect trade routes.
The Ministry of Commerce stated that the import ban applies to all goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan. India has also suspended the exchange of all surface and air mail, including parcels, from Pakistan.
These actions are part of a broader set of punitive measures India has adopted since the Pahalgam attack. Last week, the Centre suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the Attari border — the only functional land crossing — and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Tensions mounted further as Pakistan’s military announced a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a 450 km range. A statement from the Pakistani army claimed the test was intended “to ensure the operational readiness of troops and validate key technical parameters”.
However, people familiar with developments in New Delhi described the missile launch as a “blatant” act of “provocation”, underlining the growing unease in South Block over Pakistan’s military posture amid the diplomatic rupture.
Meanwhile, the hunt for those responsible for the Pahalgam carnage has intensified. In Colombo, Sri Lankan police searched a flight arriving from Chennai after receiving a tip-off that a suspect linked to the attack might be onboard. The flight, operated by SriLankan Airlines, was thoroughly inspected and cleared for onward operations.
Indian authorities have identified four terrorists involved in the Pahalgam massacre, including two Pakistani nationals, sources revealed.
With diplomatic channels fraying and both nations trading military and economic barbs, the region remains on edge as the shadow of the Pahalgam tragedy continues to loom large.
Pakistan has barred Indian flag carriers from entering its ports and ordered Pakistani vessels to avoid Indian docks, a retaliatory move that followed New Delhi’s sweeping ban on imports and port access for ships from the neighbouring country in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India would take “firm and decisive” action against terrorists and their backers, Islamabad enforced reciprocal maritime restrictions. The measures were announced late Saturday by Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Ports and Shipping Wing, according to Dawn newspaper.
“In view of the recent development of maritime situation with neighbouring country, Pakistan in order to safeguard maritime sovereignty, economic interest and national security enforces following measures with immediate effect: Indian flag carriers shall not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port, Pakistani flag carriers shall not visit any Indian port (and) any exemption or dispensation shall be examined and decided on case to case basis,” the order stated.
The diplomatic fallout follows the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead in Jammu and Kashmir, an incident India squarely blamed on Pakistan-backed terrorists. The incident has sharply deteriorated bilateral relations.
India’s latest retaliatory actions, which took effect Saturday, include a total ban on imports from Pakistan — including goods routed through third countries — as well as restrictions on the movement of ships, parcels and mail. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued an order barring Pakistani ships from entering Indian ports and prohibiting Indian vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.
According to officials, the measures were enforced on grounds of national security and public policy. Though direct imports from Pakistan had already become negligible following India’s imposition of a 200 per cent duty post the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, this new decision closes any remaining indirect trade routes.
The Ministry of Commerce stated that the import ban applies to all goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan. India has also suspended the exchange of all surface and air mail, including parcels, from Pakistan.
These actions are part of a broader set of punitive measures India has adopted since the Pahalgam attack. Last week, the Centre suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut down the Attari border — the only functional land crossing — and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Tensions mounted further as Pakistan’s military announced a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a 450 km range. A statement from the Pakistani army claimed the test was intended “to ensure the operational readiness of troops and validate key technical parameters”.
However, people familiar with developments in New Delhi described the missile launch as a “blatant” act of “provocation”, underlining the growing unease in South Block over Pakistan’s military posture amid the diplomatic rupture.
Meanwhile, the hunt for those responsible for the Pahalgam carnage has intensified. In Colombo, Sri Lankan police searched a flight arriving from Chennai after receiving a tip-off that a suspect linked to the attack might be onboard. The flight, operated by SriLankan Airlines, was thoroughly inspected and cleared for onward operations.
Indian authorities have identified four terrorists involved in the Pahalgam massacre, including two Pakistani nationals, sources revealed.
With diplomatic channels fraying and both nations trading military and economic barbs, the region remains on edge as the shadow of the Pahalgam tragedy continues to loom large.
