Srinagar - (Saba):
India has imposed an immediate ban on the import and transit of goods from Pakistan until further notice, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a statement.
"The import or transit, directly or indirectly, of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether freely importable or otherwise permitted, is prohibited immediately and until further notice. This restriction is imposed in the interests of national security and public policy," the directorate said.
It noted that "any exception to this ban requires prior approval from the Government of India," and that the order takes effect "with immediate effect until further notice."
On April 23, Indian security forces launched a massive search operation in Kashmir following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 tourists.
The attack occurred when gunmen emerged from the forests and opened fire on crowds at a popular tourist site in the Pahalgam area, about 90 kilometers from Srinagar, the region's summer capital.
According to local Indian media, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the attack as "the most violent of its kind against civilians in recent years."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the region has been witnessing an armed insurgency since 1989, led by groups demanding secession or integration with Pakistan, which shares control of Kashmir with India.
In a separate incident, the Indian army reported a "heavy exchange of fire" with militants, who it said were part of an "infiltration attempt" across the disputed border from Pakistan. It added that "two militants were eliminated."
| more of (International) |