New Delhi: In a sharp escalation of diplomatic and economic measures following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Indian government has cut nearly all formal ties with Pakistan. On Saturday, the Department of Posts announced a complete suspension of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan, whether by air or surface routes. “The Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes,” the official notice read.
This decision follows a broader crackdown initiated earlier in the day, when India imposed a blanket ban on both direct and indirect imports from Pakistan. Additionally, ships bearing the Pakistani flag have been barred from docking at Indian ports, while Indian vessels have been prohibited from making port calls in Pakistan.
Trade ties completely frozen
The halt in commercial exchanges effectively shuts down the already limited goods movement between the two nations. Trade figures for April 2024 to January 2025 showed India exported goods worth USD 447.65 million to Pakistan, while imports stood at a mere USD 0.42 million, as per PTI data.
These latest actions are part of a wider series of steps India has taken in response to what it calls Pakistan’s continued patronage of cross-border terrorism. In recent days, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, sealed the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, and ordered a downsizing of diplomatic staff in both nations’ High Commissions.
Travel, border tensions escalate
India also revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and instructed them to exit the country by April 30. Pakistani airlines have been barred from Indian airspace, and reciprocal measures from Islamabad soon followed. Pakistan has also ceased all trade with India, including third-party shipments, and banned Indian carriers from using its airspace. Meanwhile, tensions have continued to rise along the border, with Pakistani forces reportedly violating the ceasefire for the eighth consecutive day by firing small arms across the Line of Control in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
