Amid soaring tensions over Pahalgam terror attack, India bans all imports from Pakistan

In yet another strict move against Pakistan, amid heightening tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack, India has banned all imports from the neighbouring country amid soaring tensions . Centre said the decision has been taken in the interest of national security and public policy, stressing that it applies to all products in transit from Pakistan.

“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. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” said a notification by 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”, it said in the notification dated May 2.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the notification said this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) on Friday called on New Delhi and Islamabad to show “restraint” and pursue dialogue to defuse tensions amid speculation about India’s possible retaliation against Pakistan in view of the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Following separate phone conversations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said the rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries are “alarming” and the escalation of the situation helps “no one”.

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