New Delhi [India], May 4 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Praveen Khandelwal on Sunday called India's ban on Pakistani imports a "historic step" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at pressuring Pakistan to curb terrorism.
While speaking to ANI, MP Khandelwal questioned the purpose of maintaining the trade relation and asked, "Why should we maintain trade relations with a country that continuously carries out terrorist attacks and spews venom against India?"
MP Khandelwal lauded the government's move, saying, "This is a historic step by PM Narendra Modi. The government has made it clear that no imports will be made directly or indirectly from India to Pakistan. This in itself is a very big step. Pakistan is dependent on India for a lot of things. This step will definitely break the backbone of Pakistan's economy."
MP Khandelwal further stated that Pakistan is dependent on India for a lot of things, and the import ban will break the backbone of Pakistan's economy.
On May 3, India imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows, according to a Ministry of Commerce and Industry notification.
The Commerce and Industry's Gazette notification issued on Saturday read, "In exercise of power conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with Paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central government hereby inserts a new Para 2.20A in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 as follows with immediet effect."
"Para 2.20A: Prohibition on Import from Pakistan. 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. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India," the Commerce and Industry Ministry's notification added.
Shortly after the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, the Central government announced several diplomatic measures, such as closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and reducing the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides. India also held in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960.