Pakistan has barred ships flying the Indian flag from entering its ports, just hours after India announced a series of punitive measures against Islamabad.
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On Saturday, the Indian government imposed a sweeping ban on imports from or transiting through Pakistan amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors following last month’s deadly terrorist attack. The ban, which took immediate effect, also prohibits Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India is committed to taking “firm and decisive action against terrorists and their supporters.”
In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ports and Shipping Wing, issued a late-Saturday directive banning Indian vessels from accessing any Pakistani ports, according to Dawn newspaper.
The directive also included a reciprocal ban preventing Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports.
The rising tensions stem from the April 22 attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, which claimed the lives of over twenty people—most of them tourists. The Modi government blamed Pakistan for the attack and vowed retaliation. Pakistan has denied any involvement and warned it would respond if India takes military action.
(Source: Economic Times)
