India halts exchange of mails, parcels from Pakistan via air and surface routes

India on Saturday suspended all categories of mail and parcel exchange with Pakistan via air and surface routes with immediate effect, as New Delhi tightens measures against Islamabad, following the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists.

“Government of India has decided to suspend the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes,” Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Communication, said.

In another significant move preceding Sunday’s mail and parcel ban, India has also banned the direct or indirect import of goods from Pakistan and barred Pakistani ships from accessing Indian ports. A newly added provision in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) states that the “direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan is prohibited with immediate effect until further orders”.

India has taken a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, citing cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which gunmen opened fire on civilians, killing 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi has vowed strong action against Pakistan, accusing its government of fostering and facilitating cross-border terrorism.

The raft of punitive measures announced by India included the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari, denial of Indian airspace to Pakistani airlines, cancellation of visas for Pakistani nationals, and a downgrading of diplomatic ties.

In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian carriers and halted all trade with India, including indirect trade routed through third countries. Islamabad also rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any attempt to disrupt water flow would be treated as an “act of war”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a high-level meeting with top defence officials earlier this week, announced that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide India’s course of action.

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