Pakistan bans Indian ships in retaliation for New Delhi's port sanctions

Maritime ministry cited heightened regional tension, national security concerns as rationale behind its countermeasure

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Pakistan has barred all Indian-flagged vessels from entering its ports and territorial waters, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs said on Sunday, escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after India imposed a similar ban a day earlier. The move comes in direct response to New Delhi's earlier decision to prohibit Pakistani vessels from accessing any Indian port.

Pakistan’s maritime ministry cited heightened regional tensions and national security concerns as the rationale behind its countermeasure. It added that “any exemption requests would be reviewed individually.”

The tit-for-tat restrictions mark a new low in trade ties between the two countries, which have seen commercial exchanges drop sharply in recent years amid repeated diplomatic rows. Analysts say the reciprocal bans could disrupt regional shipping and trade routes, further isolating both countries economically.