After India’s Tough Port Ban, Pakistan Retaliates by Blocking Indian Ships

Maritime standoff escalates post-Pahalgam terror attack as Islamabad closes its ports to Indian vessels following New Delhi’s sweeping trade and shipping sanctions.

May 4, 2025: New Delhi/Islamabad – In a swift retaliatory move, Pakistan has banned Indian ships from entering its ports, escalating maritime tensions just hours after India imposed a comprehensive ban on imports from Pakistan and barred Pakistani vessels from accessing Indian ports.

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The tit-for-tat measures come in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. India blames Pakistan-based terror groups for orchestrating the massacre and has since initiated a string of punitive actions.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Indian-flagged ships are no longer permitted to dock at any Pakistani port. The directive, published by Dawn, also states that Pakistani ships cannot visit Indian ports, and that exemptions, if any, would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Also Read: India Halts All Imports from Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack, Citing National Security

Earlier on Saturday, India had imposed a complete ban on the import of all goods from Pakistan, including those transiting through third countries. It also barred Indian-flagged vessels from operating in Pakistani waters and shut the door to postal exchanges via air and surface routes.

The Indian government cited national security and public policy concerns for the stringent restrictions, reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy toward cross-border terrorism. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued formal orders enforcing the port and maritime bans with immediate effect.

Also Read: India Bans Pakistani Ships from Ports After Pahalgam Attack, Tightens Maritime Security

Although trade between the two nations had already dwindled after the 2019 Pulwama attack, when India slapped a 200% duty on Pakistani imports, this latest move halts even indirect trade, effectively sealing all maritime commercial routes.

In a further show of defiance, the Pakistan Army launched a test of the Abdali surface-to-surface missile, which has a range of 450 km. Indian officials labeled the launch a “blatant provocation” amid the rising tensions.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities searched a flight from Chennai to Colombo after being tipped off about the possible presence of a Pahalgam attack suspect on board. The flight was later cleared by SriLankan Airlines, though Indian agencies continue the hunt for four identified terrorists, including two Pakistani nationals, linked to the attack.

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Tags:
India-Pakistan tensions, Pahalgam terror attack, maritime standoff, port bans, Indo-Pak relations, Pakistani ships barred, Indian imports ban, Abdali missile test, national security, terrorism response, cross-border trade halt