India Bans All Imports From Pakistan Amid Diplomatic And Military Standoff

India has announced an immediate ban on all imports coming from and/or transiting through Pakistan, citing reasons of "national security and public policy."

India announced the ban today amid increasing tensions with Pakistan following a deadly militant attack in the Pahalgam sector of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 tourists.

India has accused Pakistan of aiding the attackers, while Pakistan has repeatedly denied this allegation, calling for an impartial investigation by international bodies. Pakistan has also ceased cross-border trade, and already closed its airspace to Indian flights several days ago.

The tensions spilled over into economic diplomacy, as India tried pressuring the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review Pakistan’s 7 billion bailout program.

Pakistan dismissed the request, with Finance Adviser Khurram Shehzad affirming the program’s stability and its role in securing macro economic confidence. Islamabad also received 1.3 billion dollars in climate resilience funding in March 2025. Analysts view India’s IMF push as part of a broader effort to isolate Pakistan diplomatically following the Pahalgam attack.

Pakistan continues to warn India of any interference with its water flows under the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1962 agreement governing the sharing of water from the Indus valley, stating that any attempt to divert waters from the Indus river system into Pakistan would be considered as an 'act of war'.

Ceasefire violations have been common the past week, with several exchanges of gunfire between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control in Kashmir, and even along the International Border.

Earlier this week, Pakistan stated that it has 'credible intelligence' that India is planning to carry our provocative military actions against its nuclear-armed neighbour, but the conflict has not yet erupted, with India seemingly opening diplomatic channels to avert imminent war.