India has banned import of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect in the “interest of national security and public policy.”
New Delhi also suspended all postal services from Pakistan and banned entry of Pakistani-flagged ships at Indian ports on Saturday.
The measures follow the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people - most of them were tourists. India has accused Pakistan of supporting terror groups responsible for the deadly attack on civilians in Jammu & Kashmir.
“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,” per a Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification issued on May 2.
India banned entry of Pakistani ships into Indian ports and also prohibited Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports, according to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).
The exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes has also been suspended, per an order issued by the Department of Posts that operates under the Ministry of Communication.
The DGFT’s ban on imports from Pakistan is expected to put a complete stop to all formal trade with the country. Islamabad, too, issued a notification late last month suspending trade with India after New Delhi expressed its outrage following the Pahalgam killings by closing the Wagah-Attari border and cancelling the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) for Pakistan citizens. India also suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan for water sharing.
The suspension of trade between India and Pakistan will hurt the latter much more as it is dependent on some key items from its neighbour such as pharmaceuticals and organic chemicals, according to the industry and trade experts.
“India doesn’t depend on Pakistani goods, so the economic impact is minimal. However, Pakistan still needs Indian products and may continue accessing them through third countries through recoded and unrecorded routes,” pointed out Ajay Srivastava from GTRI.
Srivastava further said that the move was mostly symbolic, as India had already imposed 200 per cent tariffs after the 2019 Pulwama attack, reducing imports to just $0.42 million between April 2024 and January 2025. These imports were limited to niche items like figs ($78,000), basil and rosemary herbs ($18,856) and Himalayan pink salt, he pointed out. India’s exports to Pakistan in April-January 2024-25 was about $455 million.