Pakistan has banned using its ports by Indian flag carriers, hours after New Delhi imposed recent punitive measures, together with a ban on import of products and entry of Pakistani ships into its ports, towards Islamabad.
India on Saturday (May 3, 2025) imposed a ban on the import of products coming from or transiting via Pakistan and in addition the entry of Pakistani ships into its ports at the same time as Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated the nation is dedicated to take “firm and decisive” motion towards terrorists and their backers.
Follow Pahalgam terror assault updates on May 4
Pakistan late Saturday ordered that any Indian flag carriers won’t be allowed to go to any Pakistani port and in addition barred Pakistani ships from docking at any Indian port, a Pakistani newspaper, the Dawn, reported.
“In view of the recent development of 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 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 2 neighbouring nations plummeted following the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault that killed 26 folks, largely vacationers.
In recent punitive measures towards Pakistan that got here into impact instantly amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions within the wake of the lethal Pahalgam terror assault, India additionally suspended the trade of mails, parcels from the neighbouring nation by way of air and floor routes.
Besides banning entry of Pakistani ships into Indian ports, India additionally barred Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports, in response to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS). The restrictions have been put into place with fast impact, officers stated.
According to an Indian authorities order, the whole ban on imports of all items from Pakistan was imposed on the grounds of nationwide safety and public coverage.
Though the 200% import obligation imposed on Pakistani items in 2019 after the Pulwama assault had successfully halted direct imports, the newest determination additionally prohibits the entry of Pakistani items routed via third nations.
The recent strikes got here a week-and-half after India introduced a raft of punitive measures towards Pakistan together with suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the one operation land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties following the fear assault.
The Pakistan Army, in the meantime, stated in a press release that it has performed a profitable coaching launch of the Abdali Weapon System — a surface-to-surface missile with a spread of 450 km, saying it was aimed toward guaranteeing the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters.
In New Delhi, folks acquainted with the matter stated India considers the check launch of the ballistic missile a “blatant” act of “provocation”.
As the hunt for the Pahalgam attackers intensified, Sri Lankan police searched a flight arriving in Colombo from Chennai after being tipped off {that a} suspect linked to the bloodbath could possibly be on board, a police spokesperson stated within the Sri Lankan capital. Indian authorities have recognized 4 terrorists — together with two Pakistani nationals — behind the Pahalgam carnage.
A press release from the nationwide service SriLankan Airlines stated the plane was completely inspected and subsequently cleared for additional operations.
Published – May 04, 2025 08:18 am IST
