New Delhi: In a decisive move amid escalating tensions with Islamabad, India has announced a complete ban on the import or transit of all goods originating from or exported by Pakistan, effective immediately. The Ministry of Commerce issued a formal notification on May 2, 2025, amending the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to include the restriction, citing national security and public policy concerns.
The ban comes in the wake of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists. The attack, widely condemned across India, has reignited tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and prompted stern retaliatory measures from New Delhi.
Official Notification: Zero Tolerance Approach to Terror
As per the notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the revised FTP 2023 now features a new provision titled “Prohibition on Import from Pakistan.” It explicitly states:
“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.”
Any exception to the ban will require prior clearance from the Government of India, highlighting the gravity with which the situation is being treated.
What This Means: No Trade, No Exceptions
This measure bars not only direct trade, but also indirect imports, including those routed through third-party nations like the UAE or Singapore—common transit hubs for Indo-Pak trade. Even transit goods moving through India that originate from Pakistan fall under the new restriction.
The ban underscores India’s message of zero tolerance towards terrorism and conveys a stronger geopolitical stance in response to rising aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and state-sponsored terror activities.
Digital Crackdown: Ban on Shehbaz Sharif’s YouTube Channel
In a related move, India has also blocked access to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official YouTube channel, citing its role in spreading anti-India propaganda and potentially fuelling extremist sentiments in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
This step is part of a broader digital crackdown that includes enhanced scrutiny of online content emanating from Pakistan and stricter content regulation around cross-border communication.
LoC Tensions Surge: Firing for Ninth Straight Day
Simultaneously, the **Indian Army reported unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir for the ninth consecutive day. The continuing ceasefire violations have placed security forces on high alert, particularly in sensitive border districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, and Baramulla.
Defence officials confirmed that retaliatory action has been taken, and India is closely monitoring all infiltration attempts, which are feared to increase in the coming weeks.
A History of Fragile Trade Relations
While formal trade between India and Pakistan has remained suspended since the Pulwama attack in 2019, certain goods—mainly pharmaceuticals, textiles, and raw materials—had continued to flow via informal and indirect routes. With this blanket ban, even those narrow trade windows have been officially shut.
Analysts suggest the new policy may significantly impact Pakistani exporters already struggling with a domestic economic crisis, high inflation, and dwindling foreign reserves.
Expert Opinion: Symbolic and Strategic
Experts believe that while the immediate economic impact of the ban on India is minimal due to negligible formal trade volumes, the symbolic message is powerful. Dr. Ananya Mukherjee, a strategic affairs analyst, noted:
“India is leveraging its trade policy as a tool of diplomacy and deterrence. This ban sends a loud and clear message—not just to Pakistan, but to the global community—that New Delhi will respond forcefully to attacks on its soil.”
India Draws a Firm Red Line
The dual action—trade ban and digital platform restrictions—indicates a firm red line in India’s foreign policy. As the region braces for potential fallout, New Delhi has taken a stand that reflects both domestic outrage and a strategic pivot in its counterterrorism and cross-border policy.
Further developments will depend on Islamabad’s response and whether Pakistan reins in hostile elements targeting India.
