Pakistan imposes port ban on Indian ships after New Delhi’s import blockade

While trade between the two countries had already shrunk significantly since India imposed a 200% tariff on Pakistani goods after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, the new measures represent a complete severance of formal economic links.

In a retaliatory move following India’s sweeping trade and port restrictions, Pakistan has announced a ban on Indian-flagged vessels from docking at any of its ports.

The decision, announced late Saturday by Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs, comes hours after New Delhi barred Pakistani ships from Indian ports and imposed a complete ban on goods imported from or transiting through Pakistan.

The order, issued by the Ports and Shipping Wing of Pakistan's maritime ministry, also prohibits Pakistani vessels from visiting any Indian ports. Any exemption to these restrictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, the directive added, citing national security, maritime sovereignty, and economic interests.

This tit-for-tat maritime standoff is the latest flashpoint in a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the two neighbours, triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists. India has accused Pakistan-based elements of masterminding the attack and vowed strong retaliation.

Earlier on Saturday, India formally banned all imports from Pakistan — including those routed through third countries — citing national security and public policy concerns. The Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the ban was to take effect immediately. Additionally, India prohibited Pakistani ships from docking at its ports and barred Indian-flagged vessels from making port calls in Pakistan.

These measures follow a series of tough actions taken by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari land border crossing, halting of all postal and parcel exchanges via air and surface routes, and a downgrading of diplomatic relations.

While trade between the two countries had already shrunk significantly since India imposed a 200 percent tariff on Pakistani goods after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, the new measures represent a complete severance of formal economic links.

Meanwhile, tensions flared further after the Pakistan Army conducted a training launch of the Abdali short-range ballistic missile, which has a range of 450 km. Islamabad described the launch as part of routine drills to ensure operational readiness, but New Delhi saw it as a provocative act amid the ongoing crisis.

Adding to the regional alert, Sri Lankan authorities on Saturday searched a Chennai-Colombo flight after receiving intelligence that a suspect linked to the Pahalgam terror attack might be onboard. According to SriLankan Airlines, the aircraft was cleared for operations after a thorough inspection.

Indian agencies have identified four suspects involved in the Pahalgam massacre, including two Pakistani nationals. A large-scale search operation remains underway in Jammu and Kashmir as security forces intensify efforts to track down the attackers.