India has imposed an immediate ban on the import of goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan, citing national security concerns following a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) last month.
The move was announced through a notification issued by India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which said, “This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.”
The decision comes in the aftermath of an attack in the Pahalgam region of IIOJK, where unidentified gunmen killed at least 26 tourists. India has blamed Pakistan for the incident, an allegation Islamabad has firmly denied. In response, Pakistan has claimed to possess credible intelligence indicating that India may be preparing for military action.
In retaliation, Pakistan has taken several countermeasures, including the suspension of all border trade, closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft, and the expulsion of Indian diplomats. Moreover, Pakistani authorities have warned that any Indian attempt to disrupt the flow of river water guaranteed under the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty would be viewed as an act of war.
Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan has significantly declined in recent years, and the latest developments further strain already tense relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
