New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) In another punitive measure against Islamabad in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has banned the direct or indirect import of goods from Pakistan.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a notification issued on Friday, “prohibited the import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan”.

Inserting a new para in its Foreign Trade Policy, it said:

"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.

“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India.”

It said that the para is inserted to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect, until further orders.

It was signed by Ajay Bhadoo, Director General of Foreign Trade and Additional Secretary to the GoI.

The measure is the latest by New Delhi to crack down on Islamabad for allowing cross-border terrorism into India from its soil. The Pahalgam terrorists who gunned down 26 tourists on April 22 were acting on orders from handlers in Pakistan.

India has taken several measures to hit back at Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari border, telling all Pakistani nationals to leave, thinning the staff at the Pakistan HC and its own in Islamabad, among others.

UNI RN