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India’s decision to suspend all postal services came after it banned the import of all Pakistani goods as part of its latest diplomatic action following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol the fenced border with Pakistan. (Image: Reuters)
After closing the doors for any imports from Pakistan, India has now decided to suspend all postal services from Pakistan in its latest diplomatic strike following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
In a public notice, the Ministry of Communications said, “Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes.”
This step came hours after India banned the direct and indirect import of all goods from Pakistan, according to a notification from the Ministry of Commerce. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in the notification that this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.
“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,” said the DGFT.
India also banned the entry of Pakistani-flagged ships in Indian ports and prohibited all Indian ships from entering Pakistani ports. India has also closed its airspace for Pakistani airlines.
ALSO READ: ‘Decisive Action Against Terrorists, Their Backers’: PM Modi Doubles Down On Pahalgam Response
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated to new heights after Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage. India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan after the attack with a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and expulsion of its military attaches.
India also cancelled all visas of Pakistani nationals and gave a deadline to all those living in India to return home, including Pakistanis with medical visas. Pakistan responded by suspending trade with India.
Tensions High After Pakistan Provocation
Meanwhile, Pakistan today conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System— a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres as part of Ex INDUS. The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters.
India sees Pakistan’s preparations to test fire surface-to-surface ballistic missiles amid mounting tensions as a “reckless act of provocation” and a “dangerous escalation” of the situation, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
The planned missile test by Pakistan, under such “volatile conditions” is nothing short of a “blatant provocation” and a “desperate attempt to whip up tensions” with India, they said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again vowed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them in wake of the Pahalgam carnage. While addressing a joint press statement with Angola President João Lourenço in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, “We are unanimous that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity.”
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