India bans ‘direct, indirect’ imports from Pakistan

By Anadolu Staff

NEW DELHI (AA) - India Saturday said it has banned all imports from neighboring Pakistan amid the ongoing tensions between the two South Asian nations since the April 22 Kashmir attack which left 26 people dead, according to a government notification released in New Delhi.

“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 order,” read the notification issued by the Indian Commerce Ministry late Friday.

It said the ban will take effect immediately.

“Restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” it added.

Islamabad has already banned trade with India.

New Delhi’s latest move comes as tensions are running high between the nuclear-armed neighbors since last month's attack in the Pahalgam tourist resort in the Indian-administered Kashmir.

India blamed Pakistan, saying the attack had “cross border links.” Islamabad denied and instead offered a neutral probe with third-party monitoring.

Both countries have taken diplomatic measures against each other, including canceling visas for each other’s citizens and recalling diplomatic staff.

India also suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 water use and distribution agreement with Pakistan.

In recent days, many countries, including the US, have contacted leaders of both countries in an attempt to ease tensions.