Amid ongoing tensions, India has once again taken action against Pakistan. This time, India has banned all types of imports from Pakistan. The Modi government stated that this decision has been taken in the interest of national security and public policy.
According to a report by NDTV, both direct and indirect imports from Pakistan are now prohibited. Additionally, no Pakistani ship will be allowed to dock at Indian ports.
A notification from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating from or exported from Pakistan—whether freely importable or otherwise permitted—is hereby immediately prohibited in the interest of national security and public policy. This ban will remain effective until further notice. Any exceptions will require prior approval from the Government of India.
The only trade route between India and Pakistan—the Wagah-Attari crossing—was shut down after the Pahalgam attack. However, indirect imports from Pakistan had continued even after that.
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Goods previously imported from Pakistan mainly included medicines, fruits, and oilseeds. Since the 2019 Pulwama attack, these imports have significantly decreased. Another reason for the decline is India’s imposition of a 200% tariff on Pakistani products. As a result, Pakistani goods accounted for less than 0.0001% of India’s total imports in 2024–25.
Meanwhile, India has urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review the disbursement of loans to Pakistan. On Friday, May 2, a source from the Indian government informed Reuters of this development. This marks a new level of tension between the South Asian neighbors following a deadly attack in Kashmir.
The source stated that Pakistan received a $7 billion loan from the IMF last year and an additional $1.3 billion in climate resilience funding in March.
This program is crucial for Pakistan’s $350 billion economy, and the country has stated that the loan has helped it avoid numerous economic threats.
However, it has been revealed that India has begun lobbying against Pakistan receiving loans. A representative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concerns to the IMF regarding the disbursement of loans to Pakistan. India has requested the IMF to review the aid being given, as the country does not want Pakistan to receive such foreign assistance. A government source in New Delhi confirmed this to Reuters without providing further details.
