In a decisive move, India has banned all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan, citing national security concerns after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
By New Delhi Post Desk
New Delhi: India has imposed an immediate ban on all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan, effective May 2, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, adding a provision under “Prohibition on Import from Pakistan” to prohibit the import or transit of any goods originating in or exported from Pakistan “until further orders.” The decision, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, is driven by national security and public policy concerns, with exceptions requiring explicit government approval.
Details of the Import Ban
The notification states, “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.” This move follows a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the closure of the Attari-Wagah border, amid heightened tensions over the attack linked to Pakistan-based militants.
Context of the Pahalgam Attack
The terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on April 22, claimed by The Resistance Front (a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot), targeted tourists, killing 26, including a Nepalese citizen. India has accused Pakistan of harboring terrorism, prompting severe retaliatory measures like visa cancellations, airspace closures, and now the import ban. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, granting the armed forces operational freedom to respond.
Economic and Diplomatic Implications
The ban severs the last trade ties between India and Pakistan, previously valued at Rs 3,886.53 crore in 2023–24, already diminished since the 2019 Pulwama attack. Pakistan’s fragile economy, grappling with inflation and a $22 billion external debt, faces further strain. Diplomatic relations have deteriorated, with both nations expelling military attaches, reducing embassy staff, and suspending bilateral agreements like the Shimla Agreement and SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme.
