Pakistan has announced the closure of its ports to Indian-flagged vessels, intensifying a diplomatic and economic standoff between the two nations following a deadly attack in Kashmir. The move comes in response to India’s decision to ban imports from Pakistan and prohibit Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports.
The Indian government’s actions were prompted by a massacre in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed. India has attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militants, a claim that Islamabad denies. In retaliation, Pakistan has not only shut its ports to Indian ships but also ceased border trade, closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and expelled Indian diplomats.
The escalating tensions have led to a series of reciprocal measures. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a long-standing agreement on water sharing, and has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Pakistan. Both countries have also engaged in cross-border skirmishes along the Line of Control, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict.
Pakistan’s recent test-firing of the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, with a range of 450 kilometers, has further heightened tensions. The missile test was conducted to demonstrate operational readiness amid the deteriorating relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
