India Halts All Trade with Pakistan After Deadly Terror Attack

On May 3, 2025, India announced a total ban on both direct and indirect trade with Pakistan, including shipments routed through third countries. This move follows a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists. In addition to the trade ban, Indian ports will no longer allow Pakistani-flagged ships to dock.

Although formal trade between the two countries had already been minimal, some Pakistani products were still reaching India via intermediaries like the UAE and Singapore. The new restrictions aim to block these remaining routes. The Indian government cited national security and public policy concerns as the reasons for the immediate action.

This trade cutoff is part of a broader set of retaliatory steps India has taken since the Pahalgam incident. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, sealing the land border at Attari-Wagah, and expelling Pakistani diplomats. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, an accusation Islamabad strongly denies.

In response, Pakistan has also taken countermeasures, such as halting border trade, closing its airspace to Indian aircraft, and expelling Indian diplomats. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries are now at a high point, prompting international concerns over potential escalation.

Certain areas of Delhi experienced light rainfall on Saturday morning, providing residents with a momentary respite from the heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate showers for the national capital throughout the day, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. As per the meteorological agency, the national capital saw 0.8 mm of rain in the last 24 hours — from 8:30 am on Friday to 8:30 am on Saturday.