India has announced a ban on the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan, as diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK) region.
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade stated in a notification that the ban would be effective immediately. “This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the notification read.
According to Indian media reports, a provision has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, as per the notification dated May 2, “to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.”
Pakistan has also blocked imports from India.
Suspected militants killed at least 26 tourists in last week’s attack on a mountain resort in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region has been a flashpoint for multiple wars, insurgencies, and diplomatic standoffs.
India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim that Islamabad has denied. Pakistan stated it possesses “credible intelligence” indicating India’s intention to undertake military action.
In a strong response to Pakistan following the attack, India threatened to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan has also declared retaliatory measures, including the suspension of all border trade, the closure of its airspace to Indian carriers, and the expulsion of Indian diplomats.
Furthermore, Pakistan has warned that any attempt to obstruct the flow of river water guaranteed under a decades-old treaty between the two countries would be considered an act of war.
Trade between the two nations has significantly decreased in recent years.
The attack has contributed to heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), with both Pakistan and India becoming increasingly engaged.
Indian and Pakistani forces have exchanged fire across the LoC, which divides the two countries, as the UN urges “maximum restraint” amid warnings of a broader military escalation.
Adding to the complexity, the tensions are not confined to the border, as Kashmiris across India are facing increased violence in the aftermath of last week’s deadly attack.
Notably, following the recent attack, Kashmiris held candlelight vigils and protest marches. A complete shutdown was observed the day after the killings, and newspapers printed black front pages as a sign of mourning and protest.
Muslims in various regions of India are also experiencing mob violence, fueled by racist accusations linking them to the attack that have emerged in popular discourse.
Concerns about a wider conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations are growing if these tensions are not de-escalated swiftly.
