India Bans Imports from Pakistan Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions
New Delhi, May 3 – India has banned the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan, citing national security concerns following the deadly Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notification stating that the ban would take effect immediately, marking another escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
India has accused Pakistan-based groups of orchestrating the attack, a claim Islamabad has strongly denied. In response, Pakistan has announced retaliatory measures, including:
- Halting all border trade with India.
- Closing its airspace to Indian carriers.
- Expelling Indian diplomats from Islamabad.
Additionally, Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to disrupt the flow of river water under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an act of war.
Trade between the two nations has already declined sharply in recent years, with imports from Pakistan dropping to $420,000 between April 2024 and January 2025, compared to $2.86 million in the same period the previous year.