Pahalgam Terror Attack: India Bans Imports And Transit Of All Goods From Pakistan With Immediate Effect

Amid rising tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, India has imposed a ban on all imports from Pakistan from immediate effect citing national security concerns.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday (2 May) stated that “direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”

The government has invoked national security and public policy grounds for the decision.

“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the notification said, adding that any exceptions to the ban would require prior approval from the Central government.

The tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam by Pakistan-linked terrorists, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

Following the deadly terror attack, India has moved swiftly to sever ties with Pakistan — suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visas of Pakistani nationals, expelling defence diplomats, and restricting Pakistani access to Indian airspace.

Pakistan has also halted all trade with India and closed its airspace to Indian carriers.

After the terror attack, PM Modi had vowed that India will identify and track down the terrorists and their backers and will pursue them to the "ends of the earth".

At a high-level security briefing on Tuesday, the Prime Minister also granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to respond.

A rattled Pakistan has alleged that India may soon initiate a military strike on it in retaliation to the terror attack.

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