India, May 3 -- The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways has banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting ports in Pakistan.

The restrictions, effective immediately, have been imposed under Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, to safeguard Indian assets, cargo, and port infrastructure."The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests," the order issued by the ministry said.

The order will remain in force until further notice, as part of efforts to bolster security and ensure the smooth functioning of India's maritime interests.

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