BusinessToday24 Desk: Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have once again flared following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, leading to a mutual maritime blockade between the two nations.
On Saturday, both countries announced that vessels flying the other’s national flag would no longer be permitted to enter their ports. As a result, Indian-flagged ships are now barred from docking at any Pakistani port, while Pakistani vessels are likewise prohibited from entering Indian ports.
The heightened tension follows the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir, where at least 26 people — mostly tourists — were killed in one of the deadliest assaults in the region in decades. While India has subtly indicated possible cross-border involvement, Pakistan has strongly denied the allegations and has called for a neutral international investigation.
In the aftermath, both sides increased military readiness. Pakistan deployed additional troops along the border, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted “operational freedom” to the Indian military. On April 30, Pakistani officials stated they feared a potential Indian strike within 24 to 36 hours. Diplomatic backchannels have since been activated to de-escalate the situation.
Against this volatile backdrop, India’s Directorate General of Shipping announced Saturday that Pakistani-flagged ships are now barred from all Indian ports. The directive stated the move was “in the public interest and to ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and associated infrastructure.”
Soon after, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs issued a matching order, citing “recent maritime developments with the neighboring country,” and stressing the need to protect national security and economic interests.
These reciprocal bans follow a series of escalating actions. India has already closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft until May 23, and also ordered the blocking of social media accounts linked to Pakistani media outlets and political leaders.
Trade relations between the two countries have steadily declined in recent years. Following India’s revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, which removed the special status of Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade, equating relations with those it maintains with Israel — with whom it has no formal trade at all.
