India cuts trade postal port links with pakistan

India cuts trade postal port links with pakistan

Delhi steps up action against Islamabad on a day Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable missile ‘Direct or indirect’ import of goods from Pakistan banned, ports closed for ships with Pakistan flag J&K CM calls on Prime Minister, reiterates ‘deep sense’ of grief and outrage felt by people of J&K.

India announced a freeze on imports from Pakistan on Saturday, prohibiting the “direct or indirect” import of all goods “originating in or exported by Pakistan”. The Indian government also suspended all postal links with Pakistan, and announced that ships bearing the national flag of Pakistan will not be allowed to dock in Indian ports.

These measures were announced on a day that Pakistan test-fired a nuclear capable missile, and days after India enforced a stringent visa regime targeting Pakistani citizens in response to the terror attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam on April 22.

“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,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said on Saturday.

Indian ships

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways announced that no ship bearing the national flag of Pakistan will be hosted by Indian ports. It also announced that Indian ships will not visit Pakistani ports and that these decisions taken in “national interest” will come into force “with immediate effect”. The order added that exemptions will be issued on “case to case basis”.

Announcing the measure on postal relations, the Department of Communications said: “The Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes.”

These announcements came on the same day that Pakistan test-fired its 450 km range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, called Abdali. Sources here described the missile test by Pakistan as a “grave provocation”, noting that the latest variant of the Abdali has a longer range. Military buildup has continued over the past few days as hostilities intensified on the Line of Control in Kashmir.

India has already implemented a restrictive visa regime with Pakistan and cancelled fourteen categories of visas for Pakistani nationals.

As of now, only the Long Term Visas (LTVs) and diplomatic and officials visas issued to Pakistani officials are valid.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and discussed various key issues, including the Pahalgam attack, officials said.

The meeting at the Prime Minister's residence lasted around 30 minutes, they said.

This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the terror attack.

3 During the meeting, Mr. Abdullah briefed Mr. Modi on the prevailing situation in wake of the heinous terror attack, an official spokesperson said and added that the Chief Minister reiterated the deep sense of grief and outrage felt by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.