Islamabad: Pakistan has announced a complete ban on Indian flag carriers accessing its ports, in response to a series of sanctions imposed by India, including the prohibition of Pakistani vessels from Indian ports and a blanket ban on goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan.
Earlier, India had imposed stringent punitive measures, citing national security concerns following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. In addition to banning imports from Pakistan and denying entry to Pakistani ships, India also halted the exchange of mail and parcels via air and surface routes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the developments, reiterated New Delhi’s resolve, stating that the country is committed to taking “firm and decisive” action against terrorists and their supporters.
In a retaliatory step issued late Saturday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Ports and Shipping Wing announced new directives to enforce maritime restrictions. Citing the need to safeguard maritime sovereignty and national security, the order stated:
“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 was reported by Dawn, a leading Pakistani newspaper.
India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) also confirmed the enforcement of the reciprocal ban, noting that Indian vessels are now prohibited from docking at Pakistani ports.
The Indian government emphasized that the import ban applies to all Pakistani-origin goods, including those re-exported through third countries. Although direct imports from Pakistan had already been reduced significantly after the imposition of a 200 percent duty in the wake of the 2019 Pulwama attack, the latest measures close all remaining loopholes.
These developments come on the heels of a broader diplomatic escalation. India recently suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, sealed the Attari land crossing — the only operational border for trade — and downgraded diplomatic engagement with Islamabad.
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Amid these heightened tensions, Pakistan’s military announced the successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km. The launch was aimed at validating key technical parameters and reinforcing operational readiness.
In response, sources in New Delhi described the test as a “blatant” act of “provocation”, raising further concerns over regional stability.
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Meanwhile, authorities in Sri Lanka conducted a security sweep on a flight arriving in Colombo from Chennai following intelligence that one of the suspects in the Pahalgam attack could be on board. The police search yielded no arrests, and the aircraft was cleared for continued operation, according to a statement from SriLankan Airlines.
Indian officials have identified four terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, including two Pakistani nationals, and the manhunt for the perpetrators continues.
