Key Points
- India imposed a total ban on imports and Pakistani ships after the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people.
- Pakistan retaliated by barring Indian-flagged vessels from all its ports and stopping Pakistani ships from visiting India.
- Both countries have suspended postal services and all direct or indirect trade, including goods routed through third countries.
- The bans are effective immediately and are framed as measures to protect national security and maritime sovereignty.
- The diplomatic fallout follows earlier steps like shutting the Attari border, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and expelling diplomats.
New Delhi: In a sweeping escalation of hostilities, India and Pakistan have imposed tit-for-tat bans on each other’s ships and goods, effectively freezing maritime and trade links between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The moves come in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which killed 26 people-mostly tourists-and triggered a wave of diplomatic and economic retaliation.
India’s Toughest Sanctions Yet
On Saturday, the Indian government announced a blanket ban on the import of all goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan, regardless of the route or import status. This includes products routed via third countries, closing off any loopholes previously used for indirect trade. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade stated that this measure was taken “in the interest of national security and public policy,” and will remain in effect until further notice.
Simultaneously, India barred all Pakistani-flagged vessels from docking at Indian ports and prohibited Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports. The Directorate General of Shipping emphasized that these steps were necessary to “ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and connected infrastructure”. Any exceptions to these bans will be considered only on a case-by-case basis.
Postal services between the two countries have also been suspended, halting the exchange of mail and parcels via air, land, and sea routes.
Pakistan’s Immediate Retaliation
Hours after India’s announcement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs issued a directive banning Indian-flagged ships from entering any Pakistani port. The order also prevents Pakistani ships from visiting Indian ports, mirroring India’s restrictions. The Pakistani government cited the need to safeguard “maritime sovereignty, economic interest, and national security” as the rationale for its actions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended Pakistan’s response as “responsible and measured,” framing it as a necessary step in light of India’s punitive measures and the deteriorating security environment.
A Rapidly Deteriorating Relationship
The current maritime and trade standoff is the latest in a series of escalating measures following the Pahalgam attack. India had already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut the only operational land border at Attari, expelled Pakistani nationals, and reduced diplomatic staff. The new bans effectively sever the last remaining economic and logistical ties between the two countries.
Trade between India and Pakistan had already dwindled to a trickle after previous sanctions, but the latest restrictions close off even indirect and third-country routes, forcing global shipping and logistics companies to redraw transit routes and reconsider regional operations.
What’s Next?
Both governments have left the door open for case-by-case exemptions, but the sweeping nature of the bans signals a prolonged period of frozen relations. With both sides citing national security and sovereignty, and no signs of diplomatic thaw, the maritime and trade standoff is likely to persist, further impacting regional stability and economic activity.
- Pakistan Ministry of Maritime Affairs, as reported by Dawn
“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.”
