INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
India took fresh actions on Saturday to completely block out Pakistan as it unveiled punitive financial steps versus the neighbouring
nation, banning the import of all goods coming from there, forbiding Pakistan-flagged vessels calling at Indian ports, and stopping the
exchange of mail and parcels by land and air routes.The moves by three different divisions: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT),
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) and Department of Posts are the latest in New Delhis manoeuvres to retaliate against Pakistan over its
continued assistance to terrorism, following the April 22 Pahalgam horror attack.The federal government cited national security and
nationwide interest as reasons for the steps, which came versus the backdrop of India likewise damaging Pakistan at international online
forum as part of the efforts to build a global agreement against Islamabad.Direct or indirect import or transit of all items originating in
or exported from Pakistan, whether freely importable or otherwise allowed, will be forbidden with instant effect, until additional orders
This restriction is enforced in the interest of nationwide security and public law, said a May 2 notice by DGFT, an arm of the commerce
ministry.In a separate order released on Saturday, DGS, which belongs of the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, said all ships
bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to check out any Indian Port
It also forbade Indian-flagged vessels from visiting any Pakistani port.This order is released to guarantee safety of Indian properties,
freight and linked facilities, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping
Any exemption or dispensation from this order will be analyzed and selected case-to-case basis, it stated, adding the order would be
implemented with instant effect.Union minister for interactions and development of north eastern area, Jyotiraditya Scindia, shared another
notification issued by the department of posts, which comes under the ministry of interactions, stating the government had decided to
suspend exchange of all classifications of incoming mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes.New Delhi has currently
revealed a raft of actions against Pakistan, consisting of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of its airspace to
Pakistani airplane, the expulsion of many Pakistani nationals, and the closure of the only functional land border crossing at Attari.It has
actually likewise asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review loans to the neighbouring nation, individuals aware of the matter
Pakistan has revealed a number of counter-measures such as closing its airspace to Indian airliners and suspending all trade, as it provided
to take part in an independent investigation of the attack a proposition that New Delhi sees as worthless given its past track-record of
inactiveness in fear probes.Experts stated the order banning the import and transit of Pakistani-origin goods carried a strong message even
though Indian imports from Pakistan were minimal and were part of efforts toOur imports from Pakistan are nearly absolutely no, whereas
Pakistan imported Indian product worth about $500 million in the first 9 months of 2024-25, an authorities said requesting
anonymity.According to government data, Pakistan imported products worth almost $448 million from India throughout April-January of FY25
These imports consisted of medications, sugar, chemicals, auto elements and petroleum products.India does not depend upon Pakistani goods,
so the economic effect is minimal
Pakistan still needs Indian products and may continue accessing them through 3rd nations through recorded and unrecorded paths, stated Ajay
Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI)
Srivastava said India had imposed 200% tariffs on Pakistani items after the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, minimizing imports to just
$420,000 in between April 2024 and January 2025
These imports were restricted to niche items such as figs, basil, rosemary and Himalayan pink salt.The measures started by India were not
likely to impact informal Pakistani imports of Indian products such as medications, chemicals, sugar and food products through 3rd countries
such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Sri Lanka, which GTRI has actually estimated at nearly $10 billion a year.India utilized to
import mineral oil, copper, fruits and nuts, salt, sulphur, plastering products, cotton, raw hides and skins from Pakistan
It exported cotton, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, sugar, prepared animal fodder, vegetables, plastic posts and dairy products.Last week, a
group of greatly armed terrorists emerged from the woods and targeted travelers on the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam.Twenty-six people, 25
of them tourists and 24, Hindu were killed in the attack that was reminiscent of the heyday of terrorism in the 1990s and 2000s and the
worst to rock the nation since the 2008 Mumbai horror attacks.Pakistan-based fear group Lashkar-e-Taibas proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF),
initially declared obligation for the attack
New Delhi has actually because determined three Pakistani terrorists and tracked their digital footprints to highlight Islamabads role in
the attack.Source: Hindustan Times-- Agencies
