NEW DELHI (Reuters): India said it banned the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan as diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations flared in the wake of a deadly attack on tourists in disputed Kashmir region.
India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade in a notification said the ban would take effect immediately.
"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy," it said.
The development came as Pakistan successfully test-fired the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has an extended range of 450km, the military's media wing announced on Saturday.
Suspected militants killed at least 26 tourists in last week's attack on a mountain destination in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region is claimed by both India and Pakistan, and has been the site of multiple wars, insurgency and diplomatic standoffs.
India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan said it has "credible intelligence" that India intends to launch military action.
Pakistan also announced retaliatory measures that have included halting all border trade, closing its airspace to Indian carriers and expelling Indian diplomats.
It has also warned that any attempt to prevent the flow of river water promised under a decades-old treaty between the two nations would be considered an act of war. Trade between the two nations has dwindled over the last few years.
Pakistan has successfully test-fired the surface-to-surface ballistic missile amid heightened tensions between the two nations.
The launch, part of "Exercise Indus," aimed to validate key technical parameters and ensure the operational readiness of Pakistan's strategic forces, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The test was observed by senior officials from the Army Strategic Forces Command and the Strategic Plans Division, along with scientists and engineers from the country's strategic organisations, the Dawn reported.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and military leaders congratulated the team and reaffirmed confidence in Pakistan's nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The launch came hours after Indian officials labelled Pakistan's planned missile test a "reckless provocation" and a "dangerous escalation" of its hostile campaign", according to the Hindustan Times.
Tensions have heightened between the two nuclear-powered South Asian rivals following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
India has blamed cross-border elements, a claim Pakistan denies, calling instead for an independent investigation.
In response to the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted the military "full operational freedom" to decide its response.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has reinforced positions along the Line of Control (LoC), where cross-border firing has escalated since late April.
Pakistan's military described the missile test as routine and defensive, but Indian authorities viewed it as an attempt to escalate tensions.
Diplomatic efforts are reportedly underway, with the US and EU reaching out to both sides to prevent further deterioration.
The Abdali missile, previously known for a range of 180-200 km, appeared to have been upgraded for this test.
It joins Pakistan's broader missile arsenal, including the Shaheen-II, which was last tested in August 2024.
The ISPR reiterated that Pakistan's strategic forces remain prepared to respond to "any aggression" and uphold national security, underscoring what officials describe as the country's commitment to credible minimum deterrence in a volatile regional environment.
