NEW DELHI, May 3 (ANI): In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, India has imposed a ban on Pakistani-flagged ships, prohibiting them from docking at any Indian port. The move is aimed at protecting national assets and ensuring the safety of maritime infrastructure amid escalating bilateral tensions.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued a formal statement on Saturday announcing the new directive. It declared that vessels flying the Pakistani flag are now barred from entering Indian ports, and reciprocally, Indian-flagged ships are prohibited from visiting Pakistani ports.
According to the ministry, this measure aligns with the objective of promoting the growth and efficient regulation of India’s mercantile marine, serving national interest. The action has been taken under the authority of Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, read in conjunction with the preamble of the Indian Constitution, which provides the ministry jurisdiction over Indian-flagged ships globally and foreign-flagged ships operating in Indian territorial waters.
“A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port. An Indian flag ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan,” the official statement clarified.
The ministry emphasized that the order has been issued in the public interest to ensure the safety of Indian shipping assets, cargo, and related infrastructure. Any deviations from this directive will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
In a related development earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced an immediate and comprehensive ban on the import, export, and transit of goods originating from or routed through Pakistan. This suspension of bilateral trade flows marks a significant escalation in India’s response to the Pahalgam attack.
The attack, which occurred on April 22, resulted in the tragic deaths of 26 tourists. In response, the Indian government has implemented a series of stringent diplomatic and economic measures.
These include the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals—who have been given 40 hours to leave India—and a reduction in diplomatic staff in the High Commissions of both nations.
India has also frozen the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, a historic water-sharing agreement signed with Pakistan in 1960, citing national security concerns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack and vowed swift retribution, assuring the nation that those responsible—both perpetrators and conspirators—would face consequences “beyond their imagination.”
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