Pakistan shuts ports to Indian ships after India bans imports

New Delhi: Pakistan has prohibited Indian flag carriers from using its ports, following New Delhi's imposition of new trade restrictions, including a ban on imports from Pakistan and the entry of Pakistani ships into Indian ports.

On Saturday, India announced a ban on the import of goods originating from or passing through Pakistan, alongside restrictions on Pakistani vessels docking at Indian ports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to taking "firm and decisive" action against terrorists and their supporters.

Later that day, Pakistan responded by barring Indian flag carriers from docking at any Pakistani port while also preventing Pakistani ships from accessing Indian ports, a Pakistani newspaper, the Dawn, reported.

“In view of the recent development of the 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 a case-to-case basis,” the newspaper reported.

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

Ties between the two neighbouring countries plummeted following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

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 mail and parcels from the neighbouring country via air and surface routes.

India has expanded its trade restrictions on Pakistan, barring Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports in addition to prohibiting Pakistani vessels from docking in India, according to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS). Officials confirmed that the measures were implemented immediately.

While a 200 per cent import duty imposed in 2019 after the Pulwama attack had already curtailed direct imports, the latest decision also blocks Pakistani goods routed through third countries.

These new restrictions follow a series of punitive actions taken by India against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of the Attari land border crossing, and the downgrading of diplomatic ties in response to the recent terror attack.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan army announced the successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, stating that the test was conducted to ensure operational readiness and validate key technical parameters.

In New Delhi, sources familiar with the matter described the missile test as a "blatant" act of "provocation".

As the search for the Pahalgam attackers intensified, Sri Lankan police inspected a flight arriving in Colombo from Chennai after receiving a tip-off that a suspect linked to the massacre might be on board. Indian authorities have identified four terrorists—two of whom are Pakistani nationals—as responsible for the attack.

SriLankan Airlines confirmed that the aircraft was thoroughly searched and subsequently cleared for further operations.

(inputs from PTI)