New Delhi, May 3, 2025: India has imposed an immediate ban on all imports originating from or transiting through Pakistan, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors intensify following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a notification issued on May 2, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated that the ban is being enforced “in the interest of national security and public policy.” A new provision has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods from Pakistan “until further orders,” Indian media reported.
The move follows last week’s attack in the Pahalgam area of Kashmir Valley, where at least 26 tourists were killed by suspected militants. While India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, Islamabad has strongly denied any involvement, instead warning of potential military aggression by India, citing “credible intelligence.”
In retaliation, Pakistan has also suspended imports from India, shut down border trade routes, closed its airspace to Indian carriers, expelled Indian diplomats, and warned that any disruption to the Indus Waters Treaty — a decades-old water-sharing agreement — would be considered an act of war.
The Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two nations, has seen an uptick in cross-border shelling in recent days, prompting the United Nations to urge “maximum restraint” from both sides to avoid further escalation.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack has triggered widespread unrest within India, with Kashmiris and Muslims facing increased violence and discrimination. Protest marches and candlelight vigils have been held in the region, while a complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir a day after the killings. Several newspapers in the region printed black front pages in mourning and protest.
Observers warn that the deteriorating situation could push both countries toward a broader conflict unless diplomatic channels are urgently re-engaged.
