Pakistan Bans Indian Ships from Entering Its Ports Amid Rising Tensions

In a response to India’s recent ban on imports from Pakistan and the denial of port access to Pakistani vessels, Pakistan has officially barred Indian-flagged ships from entering its ports.

The decision was announced late Saturday by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, which cited the need to safeguard the nation’s maritime sovereignty, economic stability, and national security.

The move comes on the heels of a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 people in the town of Pahalgam. Following the incident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government imposed a comprehensive ban on Pakistani goods, including items transiting through its territory, and prohibited Pakistani vessels from docking at Indian ports.

Reacting to what it termed “Indian aggression,” Pakistan’s maritime ministry issued a formal directive banning Indian-registered ships from all Pakistani ports. The order also reinforces the prohibition on Pakistani vessels from accessing Indian ports.

These maritime restrictions are the latest in a series of retaliatory actions exchanged by the two long-standing rivals. India has already halted the movement of mail and parcels between the two countries and withdrawn from key bilateral frameworks such as the Indus Waters Treaty. In turn, Pakistan has suspended trade ties, revoked the Simla Agreement, and closed its airspace to Indian flights — a move reportedly costing Air India over $600 million.

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