India bans import of Pakistani goods

NEW DELHI, May 03 (YPA) – India has banned the import of all goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan, amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations following last month’s deadly terrorist attack.

India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the ban will take effect immediately, according to a notification issued on May 2, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.

The Foreign Trade Directorate added that “this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” noting that any exception to this ban would require prior government approval.

On April 22, over 20 people, most of them tourists, were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack and pledged to punish those responsible.

For its part, Pakistan denied any connection to the attack and warned of a response if India took military action.

On Saturday, the Indian military announced an exchange of fire for the eighth straight night with the Pakistani army along the Line of Control in Kashmir, accusing Pakistani forces of opening fire with small arms, “which prompted the Indian army to respond.”

AA