New Delhi: India has imposed an immediate ban on the import of goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan. The move underscores the sharp escalation in diplomatic hostilities following a deadly militant attack in the disputed Kashmir region.
The decision, announced by India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade, cites “national security and public policy” concerns in the wake of the killing of at least 26 tourists last week in the picturesque Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir.
“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the official notification stated, marking a significant downturn in already strained bilateral trade relations.
The attack, which Indian officials have attributed to Pakistan-based militants, has reignited hostilities in the long-contested Himalayan region. The mountainous, Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley claimed in full by both India and Pakistan has been the flashpoint of three wars, countless skirmishes, and a protracted insurgency since 1947.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and has countered with accusations of its own, claiming that it possesses “credible intelligence” that India is planning military action. The Pakistani government responded swiftly with retaliatory steps, including:
- Suspension of all border trade
- Closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft
- Expulsion of Indian diplomats
In a more ominous warning, Islamabad has declared that any Indian move to restrict the flow of river waters governed by the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty would be treated as an “act of war.”
Trade between the two South Asian neighbors had already been reduced to a trickle over the past few years, largely due to repeated diplomatic fallouts and security incidents. While regional tensions mount, global powers are watching the developments with concern.
India has not yet commented on Pakistan’s retaliatory actions, but analysts expect further economic, diplomatic, or even military responses if hostilities continue to intensify.
