New Delhi, May 3 (EFE).— India has announced an immediate ban on all direct and indirect imports of goods from Pakistan, escalating trade restrictions between the two neighboring countries.
The move follows New Delhi’s claim of “cross-border links” to the Apr. 22 militant attack, which left 26 people dead in the disputed Kashmir region.
An amendment to India’s Foreign Trade Policy now prohibits “the import or transit, directly or indirectly, of all goods originating from or exported from Pakistan” over national security and public policy.
The decision was detailed in a May 2 notification from the Ministry of Commerce, published on Saturday.
The ban will remain in place “until further notice,” according to the official statement.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the agency overseeing India’s external commerce, clarified that any exceptions to the sweeping ban will require explicit approval from the Indian government.
This measure marks a further tightening of India’s position toward Pakistan following the attack on Indian tourists in the Kashmir Valley.
Citing official sources, Indian media also reported that the government is pushing for Pakistan to be re-listed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, a global watchlist for countries with deficiencies in countering money laundering and terrorist financing.
The trade ban comes on the heels of several other measures taken after the Kashmir attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing pact, as well as the expulsion of diplomats, visa suspensions, and closure of airspace.
India’s main imports from Pakistan include fruits and nuts, certain oilseeds and medicinal plants, and organic chemicals.
Organic and pharmaceutical chemicals made up about 60 percent of India’s total exports to Pakistan between April and January 2024–25. EFE
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