Pahalgam terror attack: India bans all imports from Pakistan with immediate effect

India bans direct, indirect imports from Pakistan (Courtesy: Reuters file photo)

India has banned import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect amid rising tensions over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

According to a notification of the commerce ministry, a provision in this regard has been added in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 "to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.

The restriction has been imposed in the interest of national security and public policy, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said  in the notification. Any exception to this prohibition will require government approval.

Inserting the provision with head "prohibition on import from Pakistan" in the FTP, it said: "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".

Twenty six people, mostly tourists, were killed when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.

In wake of the ghastly attack, India announced several diplomatic measures including suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari among others.

The Attari-Wagah border crossing point between India and Pakistan has been shut. It was the sole trade route between India and Pakistan.

At a high-level meeting with the top defence brass earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the terror attack.

-With agency inputs