India bans all imports from Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack

In a sweeping escalation of punitive measures, India has imposed a complete ban on imports from Pakistan, citing national security concerns in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. This includes a Nepalese tourist and a local pony operator, with clear links emerging to Pakistan-based terror groups.

The Commerce Ministry’s notification added a clause to the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 prohibiting “direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan.” Exceptions will require special approval from the Indian government.

This ban comes atop the closure of the Wagah-Attari border, the only land trade route, and the earlier 200% import duty and withdrawal of Pakistan’s ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status after the 2019 Pulwama attack. Bilateral trade, which touched $2.4 billion in 2017-18, plummeted to just $647 million in 2023-24, with imports from Pakistan falling to a mere $0.42 million, or less than 0.0001% of India’s total imports.

Further tightening its stance, India has:

Suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, threatening to divert water flows critical to Pakistan’s agriculture and drinking needs.
Cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including medical visas, and ordered those in India to leave.
Downgraded diplomatic ties, as tensions flared on both the Line of Control and the International Border, with Pakistan initiating provocative cross-border firing, to which India responded strongly.

Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed India’s position: no talks with Pakistan until terrorism is eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has threatened to suspend all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement, raising fears of a deeper diplomatic freeze and further military confrontations.

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