Pahalgam: Pakistan shuts its ports for India ships after New Delhi's import ban decision

In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan announced that it is shutting down its ports for ships coming from India. The announcement came after India banned all direct and indirect imports from the neighbouring nations. Tensions between the two nations reached an all-time high following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. On April 22, terrorists infiltrated Barisan Valley in Pahalgam and killed 26 tourists, sending shockwaves across India.

“Given the recent development of maritime situation with neighbouring country, Pakistan 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,” Pakistani news outlet Dawn reported, quoting the country’s ministry of maritime affairs’ ports and shipping wing.

On Saturday, India imposed a ban on the direct and indirect import of all goods from Pakistan. The Ministry of Commerce said the measure is being taken in light of national security and public policy concerns. It is pertinent to note that the 200 per cent import duty on Pakistani goods has already curtailed the trade between the two nations following the Pulwama attack in 2019.

India ramps up security

The import ban came days after New Delhi introduced punitive measures against Pakistan, including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

On Saturday, India imposed fresh punitive measures, including the immediate suspension of mail and parcel exchanges with Pakistan by air and land routes. It is pertinent to note that in a few days, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC) multiple times.

On Saturday, it was reported that a Pakistan Rangers trooper was apprehended by BSF personnel at the international border near Sriganganagar. Sources close to the matter told TOI that the trooper had entered the Indian territory near the internationally recognised boundary at Raisinghnagar.

Following the incident, the Indian security at the border was increased with BSF personnel in a state of preparedness to respond decisively to any development from the Pakistan side. The source told the Indian news outlet that the captured Pakistani trooper hailed from Bahawalpur and is currently stationed by the Indian authorities in the Bahawalnagar region. He is currently undergoing serious interrogation by the Indian security forces.

With inputs from agencies.