Amid rising tensions, Pakistani ship delivers coal to India under pre-conflict deal

The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s (PNSC) bulk carrier SIBI delivered a 26,000-tonne coal shipment to India at Haldia Port near Kolkata on Tuesday, completing a charter arranged by a Chinese company before the recent escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India.

The News reported, citing sources, that the ship transported the coal from China and arrived at the Indian port on Monday. The development comes in the wake of heightened diplomatic strain following a terrorist incident in Pahalgam, raising questions about cross-border commercial activity.

A PNSC spokesperson confirmed that the charter party agreement for the SIBI was finalised before the current hostilities and that the shipment was executed in accordance with a binding commercial contract. The spokesperson further clarified that under the Indo-Pak Maritime Protocol, vessels registered in either country are allowed to access each other’s ports.

The spokesperson reiterated that PNSC’s operations remain in full compliance with the policies and directives of the Pakistan government.