India has imposed an immediate ban on all Pakistan-flagged ships from entering its ports, citing heightened national security concerns following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir last month.
The Ministry of Shipping issued the directive on Saturday, prohibiting not only the docking of Pakistan-registered vessels at Indian ports but also barring Indian-flagged ships from entering ports in Pakistan. The order, which takes effect immediately, will remain in place until further notice.
“The move is intended to safeguard Indian assets, cargo, and critical infrastructure,” the Indian government stated. It emphasized that the decision was made “in the public interest and for the protection of Indian shipping.”
The maritime ban is the latest in a series of retaliatory actions taken by New Delhi following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed at least 26 people—many of them tourists. Indian authorities have blamed the assault on militant groups operating from Pakistani soil, triggering a sharp escalation in diplomatic and economic hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
In addition to the port restrictions, India has also banned the import of any goods that originate from or transit through Pakistan. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade confirmed the measure in a notification citing national security and public policy concerns.
Pakistan, which denies any involvement in the Pahalgam incident, has responded with its own countermeasures. Islamabad has shut down all cross-border trade, closed its airspace to Indian airlines, and expelled Indian diplomats. Pakistani officials also allege that India is preparing for potential military action, a claim New Delhi has not confirmed.
Tensions have further been inflamed by Pakistan’s warning that any attempt by India to interfere with water flows governed by the Indus Waters Treaty would be regarded as an act of war.
Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan has seen a steady decline in recent years, particularly following the 2019 Pulwama attack and India’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status later that year. The current shipping and trade bans are expected to deepen the economic divide and complicate future diplomatic engagement.
While neither side has indicated a willingness to de-escalate, international observers have expressed concern that continued tit-for-tat measures could destabilize regional security further.
