ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has announced a complete ban on the import of goods from India via land, sea, and air routes, citing concerns related to national security and the public interest.
According to reports, all Indian items have now been officially declared prohibited. The government has announced that no cargo will be allowed to transit to India using the Pakistani territory under any circumstances, including sea, land, or air routes.
Additionally, the ban extends to goods originating from third countries if they are destined for India and transit through Pakistani territory.
However, the Ministry of Commerce clarified that the restriction will not affect shipments with a bill of lading or letter of credit (LC) issued prior to the announcement of the ban.
This development marks a further escalation in the ongoing economic and diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring nations.
Earlier, Pakistan barred the entry of Indian flag carriers from entering its ports after rising tensions following the Pahalgam incident.
As per details, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has formally imposed a ban on Indian-flagged cargo ships from entering Pakistani ports.
In addition, the ministry has directed that no Pakistani-flagged ships will be allowed to dock at Indian ports, citing the current escalation in Pakistan-India tensions as the reason behind the decision.
India has imposed an immediate ban on the import and transit of goods from Pakistan, citing national security concerns amid escalating tensions after the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which resulted in the killings of 26 people.
Without presenting evidence, Indian officials swiftly blamed Pakistan for the incident.
Pakistan strongly condemned the attack and rejected “baseless and irresponsible” accusations by India.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a neutral and independent investigation into the Pahalgam attack and warned against unilateral actions that could further inflame the situation.
The Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification dated May 2, stating that the ban applies to all goods “originating in or exported from Pakistan,” either directly or indirectly.
“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the notification said, adding that any exception to the prohibition would require specific government approval.
