No more mail, imports or ships from Pak: India slaps slew of bans amid rising tensions

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday announced a series of sweeping punitive measures against Pakistan, halting all imports, suspending mail services, and denying port access to Pakistani vessels with immediate effect.

The move marks a sharp escalation following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.

Govt of India has decided to suspend the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, says a notice from the Ministry of Communications, GoI. pic.twitter.com/tqlWfopOpw

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

DG (Shipping) has instructed not to all any Pakistani flag ship to dock in Indian ports and no Indian flag ship to berth in Pakistan ports @timesofindia pic.twitter.com/WvxLYk7Pz9

— Dipak K Dash (@dipakdashTOI) May 3, 2025

A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on May 2, and now incorporated into the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, states: “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.” Any exemptions will require explicit government approval.

The Department of Posts has simultaneously suspended the exchange of all categories of mail and parcels from Pakistan via air and land routes. A government official said this suspension is in response to "cross-border linkages" identified in the Pahalgam strike and vowed “severe punishment to those involved in the attack.”

Ships bearing Pakistan flag shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port. An Indian flag ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways pic.twitter.com/IfB95nECCe

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

India has also barred ships bearing the Pakistani flag from docking at any Indian port. The directive, issued in the interest of national security, also prohibits Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports. “This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping,” the notification reads.

Trade data reveals limited bilateral exchange in recent years. From April 2024 to January 2025, India imported just $2.88 million worth of goods from Pakistan—mainly fruits, nuts, oilseeds, and medicinal plants—while exports stood at $1.18 billion, dominated by organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Previous years saw similar trends, with 2022–23 exports at $627.1 million and imports at $20.11 million.

Other major Indian exports to Pakistan have included sugar, cereals, vegetables, tea, petroleum products, fertilisers, and auto parts.