New Delhi: In another move to isolate Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, India on Saturday barred all ships bearing the flag of the neighbouring country from entering any of its ports.
India-flagged vessels are also prohibited from docking at ports in Pakistan.
“A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian Port. An Indian flag ship shall not visit any Ports of Pakistan. The order is issued to ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping,” said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways directive.
The order will be implemented will immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice, it added.
This move aligns with a broader series of economic and diplomatic measures taken by India in response to recent escalations in border tensions and security threats. The ban will significantly disrupt regional logistics and trade routes, particularly for third-party cargo movements that previously used intermediary ports.
India bans Pakistani import
This came a day after India banned imports and entry of goods in transit from Pakistan amid rising tensions with the neighbouring country. The move, which followed the closure of the Wagah-Attari trade route, formalised a complete halt in cross-border trade and is expected to severely impact several Pakistani sectors.
India’s Ministry of Commerce has notified that: “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect.”
It added that this restriction has been imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.
Possible Impact
India’s trade with Pakistan has been in the decline since the 2019 Pulwama attack. In FY24-25 (April–January), India exported $447.65 million worth of goods to Pakistan, while imports stood at just $0.42 million. In 2023-24, exports were $1.18 billion, and imports were $2.88 million — barely 0.1% of India’s total global trade.
Despite the low volume, several Pakistani industries rely heavily on specific Indian imports. According to experts, Pakistan imported $164.19 million worth of organic chemicals from India in 2024.
“The import of pharmaceutical products (including drug formulations) was worth $120.86 million. India exported plastics worth $4.94 million and inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds valued at $4.67 million to Pakistan in that year,” an official said.
The other imports from India were mineral fuels, oils, distillation products ($2.70 million), miscellaneous chemical products ($2.09 million), modified starches, glues, enzymes ($1.53 million), dyeing extracts, pigments, tannins ($1.27 million) and miscellaneous edible preparations ($1.20 million).
Medical apparatus, optical instruments worth $0.38 million were also imported by Pakistan, apart from cereals, vegetables, auto components, dairy, and spices.
The trade ban is likely to disrupt Pakistan’s pharmaceutical, chemical, and food sectors, which depend on Indian inputs. Informal trade via third countries like the UAE and Singapore — estimated at $10 billion — may also come under strain due to heightened scrutiny and costs.
