ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has enforced a sweeping ban on the transit and import of Indian-origin goods through its territory, including those shipped by third countries via land, sea, or air.
A notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday stated that the restrictions also apply to exports destined for India via Pakistan, even if originating from a third country.
This move follows a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22 that left 26 people dead—mostly tourists—in one of the region’s deadliest incidents since 2000. India has alleged cross-border involvement without presenting evidence. Pakistan has rejected the accusation, urging an independent investigation into the incident.
In response to rising hostilities, Pakistan has bolstered its military readiness amid fears of an Indian incursion. Simultaneously, India has granted “operational freedom” to its armed forces. The escalating friction has triggered a cycle of retaliatory actions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
According to the commerce ministry notification, the trade ban will not apply to shipments for which a bill of lading or letter of credit was already issued prior to the order.
The detailed restrictions include:
- A ban on the import of Indian-origin goods by third countries transiting through Pakistan.
- A ban on the import of goods from India by third countries transiting through Pakistan.
- A ban on exports from third countries to India transiting through Pakistan.
The ministry cited “national security and public interest” as the rationale for these measures.
In a related maritime development, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced late Saturday that Indian-flagged ships are now prohibited from docking at Pakistani ports. Pakistani-flagged vessels will also be barred from entering Indian ports. The directive added that any requests for exemptions would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
This tit-for-tat move comes after India declared similar restrictions on Pakistani ships. Trade between the two countries has sharply declined over the past few years, especially since August 2019, when Pakistan downgraded trade ties with India to the same level as Israel—a nation with which Islamabad has no formal trade—following India’s abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
