India Imposes Total Ban on Import and Transit of Goods from Pakistan

India has prohibited the import and transit of all goods from or transiting through Pakistan with effect from today as a counter measure against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26. A May 2 notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) added a modification to the Foreign Trade Policy banning direct or indirect import or transit of any commodity from Pakistan, in the interest of national security and public policy interest.

The blanket ban sweeps across all the goods whether they were either previously permitted or import-free, and to remain operative until further notice. Exemptions will have to be approved by the government on a case-by-case basis. The action will harshly impact Pakistan's export industry-most notably cement, textiles, and agribusiness-and reduce still further already depressed trade between the two nations.

The prohibition is one of numerous acts of deterrents by India, such as suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, visa revocation to Pakistani nationals, diplomats' expulsions, and ban against Pakistani aircrafts' use of Indian airspace. Pakistan has acted with some of its own retaliation, such as cutting all commerce and denial of use of airspace to Indian airplanes.

India's move is an indication of heightened tensions and hardening of its position on cross-border terrorism and bilateral ties with Pakistan.