A Pakistani national, part of the crew of an Iraqi cargo vessel, was denied entry at Karnataka's Karwar port. The incident occurred due to heightened security measures following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Iraqi vessel, MT R Ocean, which had departed from Al Zubair, Iraq, arrived at the Karwar port carrying bitumen. The crew consisted of 15 Indian nationals, one Pakistani national, and two Syrian nationals. Upon the ship's arrival on May 12, port authorities and the Coastal Security Police were alerted to the presence of the Pakistani and Syrian crew members.

In accordance with standard inspection protocols and tightened vigilance, authorities implemented a security response. Police Inspector Nischal Kumar instructed that the Pakistani and Syrian nationals should not disembark from the ship, citing strained relations between India and Pakistan and Syria's perceived support for Pakistan. As a precautionary measure, the mobile phones of the Pakistani and Syrian crew members were confiscated by the ship's captain to restrict their communication. The foreign crew members remained confined to the vessel for two days while the cargo was unloaded.

Following the completion of unloading operations, the Iraqi commercial ship departed for Iraq with the Pakistani and Syrian nationals still on board. A senior port official stated that while international cargo vessels often have crew members from various countries, they are typically not allowed to disembark at Indian ports without specific clearances. In this instance, standard restrictions were enforced due to the prevailing security scenario.

This incident is aligned with India's recent responsive measures against Pakistan, including the revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals and a ban on Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports. The decision to deny entry to the Pakistani crew member reflects the increased scrutiny at Indian ports, particularly concerning vessels with links to Pakistan and China. Coastal surveillance has been intensified, and sensitive areas along the shoreline are under close watch.