India-Pakistan tension escalates: Islamabad shuts ports for Indian ships in retaliation, says report

Pakistan reportedly banned the use of its ports by Indian flag carriers. The move came on Saturday, just hours after India imposed fresh punitive measures against Islamabad, including a ban on import of goods and entry of Pakistani ships into its ports.

On Saturday, India imposed a ban on the import of goods coming from or transiting through Pakistan and also the entry of Pakistani ships into its ports even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is committed to take "firm and decisive" action against terrorists and their backers.

Pakistan late Saturday ordered that any Indian flag carriers will not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port and also barred Pakistani ships from docking at any Indian port, a Pakistani newspaper, the Dawn, reported.

According to news agency PTI, the Dawn reported that 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:

1. “Indian flag carriers shall not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port”
2. “Pakistani flag carriers shall not visit any Indian port”
3. “Any exemption or dispensation shall be examined and decided on case to case basis”

The Dawn newspaper had quoted an order issued late Saturday by Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Ports and Shipping Wing.

India Pakistan tension

The tention between India and Pakistan escalated in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

In fresh punitive measures against Pakistan that came into effect immediately amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India also suspended the exchange of mails, parcels from the neighbouring country via air and surface routes, PTI reported.

Besides banning entry of Pakistani ships into Indian ports, India also barred Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports, according to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS). The restrictions were put into place with immediate effect, officials said.

According to an Indian government order, the complete ban on imports of all goods from Pakistan was imposed on the grounds of national security and public policy.

Though the 200 per cent import duty imposed on Pakistani goods in 2019 after the Pulwama attack had effectively halted direct imports, the latest decision also prohibits the entry of Pakistani goods routed through third countries.

The fresh moves came a week-and-half after India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operation land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties following the terror attack.

Pakistan also warned of suspending the Simla Agreement among other measures it took against India in a retaliatory move.

Maritime trade between India and Pakistan

The maritime trade between India and Pakistan has largely been symbolic. The two neighbouring countries have a maritime border in the Arabian Sea, But due to the strained bilateral relationship for long, the commercial ship movements have largely remained limited

About 10 Pakistan-flagged ships visited Indian ports in 2024, while four India-flagged ships visited Pakistani ports, according to reports.

Whatever the trade exchanges has been happening between the two nations, it’s been through third countries or land borders like Attari-Wagah, which is also shut now post Pahalgam attack.