New Delhi slaps sweeping punitive measures on Pakistan
India announced a series of sweeping punitive measures against Pakistan on Saturday, halting all imports, suspending mail services, and denying port access to Pakistani vessels. The move follows diplomatic measures taken by the country earlier after it linked Islamabad to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in southern Kashmir that killed 26 civilians.
A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on May 2 banned 'direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted' with immediate effect.
India's imports from Pakistan stood at just $2.8 million from April 2024 to January 2025, according to trade data cited by the Times of India. However, its exports to the neighboring nation were $1.18 billion, dominated by organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In 2022-23, India exported goods worth around $627 million to Pakistan and imported goods worth $20 million.
Trade ties between the two nations were downgraded in 2019 when New Delhi imposed a 200% duty on Pakistani goods, and Pakistan responded by formally suspending a large part of its trade relations with India. These moves occurred following a diplomatic and military escalation after a terrorist attack in Pulwama, Kashmir, in which a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel was attacked by a suicide bomber, killing 40 people.
In a separate move on Saturday, New Delhi also barred ships bearing the Pakistani flag from docking at Indian ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.
Stating that the objective of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958 is to 'foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve the national interests,' the government said the order was being issued to 'ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in the public interest and in the interest of Indian shipping.' Any exemption, it said, would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
India's Department of Posts has also suspended the exchange of all categories of mail and parcels from Pakistan via air and land routes.
On Saturday, Pakistan's military said it conducted a test launch of a surface-to-surface missile system. Islamabad earlier claimed that it has 'credible intelligence' that India intends to launch military action, and has said it is prepared to respond. The two nuclear-armed countries have exchanged gunfire for nine consecutive nights along the Line of Control in Kashmir, according to the Indian military.
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