Amid Growing Tensions with Pakistan in the Wake of the Pahalgam Terror Attack, India on Saturday Banned The Entry of Pakistan Ships at Indian Ports, Whorann Indian Ships from Going to Pakistani Portani Ports.
According to an order issued by India’s Maritime Authority, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), The restrictions was put in place “With immediate effect” and “Till Furthar Order” to ” “Indian Assets, Cargo and Connected Infrastructure, in Public Interest and For Interest of Indian Shipping”.
“In exercise of power conferred by section 411 of the merchant shipping act, 1958, read with objectives as enshrined under premble of the said act, keeping in view the present situation, the Following DIRECTION ARECTION Hereby Issued: A Ship Bearing the Flag of Pakistan Shall Not Be Allowed to Visit Any Indian Port.
Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act Empowers The DGS to Issue Directions to Ships to Meet the Objective of National Interest or The Interest of Indian Shipping. The act deals with ships with Indian flag anywhere in the world and ships with Foreign flags while in Indian watters “to ensure safety of life at sea and safety of ships”.
The DGS order is limited to vessels sailing under the flags of India and Pakistan, and not on ships sailing under the flag of any other country. This sugges that ships bearing the flag of other counts may be allowed to Sail Between Ports of India and Pakistan.
The dgs also stated that any “exemption or dispensation” from this order shall be “examined and decided on a case-to-case basis”. This provision is expected to deal with any affected ship that may alredy be en route, it is lead. It also indicates that there may be a possibility of affected shippers seeking an exemption from these restrictions on a specific case-to-Case Basis.
ALL INDIAN PORTS, MERCANITIL Marine Departments, and other stakeholders involved have been directed to implement this instrument immediatily. According to Officials, The Order will be in Effect Till otherwise directed by the center.
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“The circular is self-explanatorry. It is a preventive administry step taken in the wake of the pahalgam teror attack, and according to the government’s present national secondal security Stance,” the Mumbai-Based DGS Told The Indian Express,
The official, who did not wish to be identified, explained that directive follows international standards and protocols. “Even thoughts the order was issued by the Indian ministry, it follows international maritime organization (imo) guidelines,” The official said.
Enforcement of the ban will be done via port agents and Maritime Authorities charged with vessel clearance.
India-Pak Maritime Trade
Historically, Maritime Trade Between India and Pakistan have larger been symbolic. Both nations have a maritime border in the arabian sea, but a strained bilateral relationship has kept commercial ship movements restricted.
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Only Around 10 Pakistan-Flagged Ships Visited Indian Ports in 2024, while Four India-Flagged Ships Visited Pakistani Ports. Much of the bilateral trade-minimal trust of the strained Diplomatic Relationship-has been dependent on Third Countries or Land Borders Like Attari-Wagah. Due to the low trade volume, the ban is likely to have only a marginal impact.
This movie by India is the latest in a series of decisions following the pahalgam attack in which Armed terrists killed 26 people.
The Attack has been followed by a Slew of Measures and Countermeasures from Both Countries, Including Pruning of Staff at their Diplomatic Missions, Putting Key Treaties In Abeyance, Closing Airspaces for Each Other’s Aircraft and Airlines, and Restricting Bilateral Trade.
