India Imposes Sweeping Sanctions on Pakistan

Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, India has enacted sweeping sanctions against Pakistan, including a total ban on all direct and indirect imports, suspension of mail and parcel exchanges, closure of the Attari-Wagah border for trade, and suspension of visa services. Pakistani-flagged ships are barred from Indian ports, with reciprocal restrictions imposed by Pakistan. The measures, justified on national security grounds, also involve halting the Indus Water Treaty. While direct trade between the two countries had already been significantly reduced, the new sanctions target goods routed through third countries as well. Pakistan has retaliated by barring Indian ships from its ports, intensifying the maritime standoff. Analysts expect limited economic impact on India but significant pressure on Pakistan’s export sector, with heightened bilateral and regional tensions.