The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : In a decisive response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Government of India has imposed an immediate and comprehensive ban on all imports from Pakistan, citing national security and public policy concerns. The ban, effective immediately, was notified through an official order issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The move marks a significant escalation in India’s trade policy towards Pakistan and comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The new directive, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), amends the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 by inserting a specific clause titled “Prohibition on Import from Pakistan.”
According to the official notification, “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 sweeping nature of the ban extends to all categories of goods, regardless of whether they were previously allowed under existing trade regulations.
The DGFT clarified that the restriction has been imposed in the interest of national security and public policy, underscoring India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism and its economic implications. The amendment to the FTP ensures that the ban is both legally enforceable and applicable across all trade channels, including indirect trade routed through third countries.
The ban is expected to have a limited impact on the Indian economy given the already minimal trade volume between the two nations. Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan has remained negligible since August 2019, when India revoked Pakistan’s Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status following the Pulwama terror attack. Since then, India had already imposed significant restrictions on imports and exports with Pakistan, and trade activity has been largely dormant.
However, the symbolic and strategic significance of this complete ban is substantial. It sends a strong diplomatic message and reinforces India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Experts suggest that the move may also prompt other countries to re-evaluate their trade and diplomatic engagements with Pakistan in the context of its internal security dynamics.
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