India cuts trade links with Pakistan following deadly Kashmir incident

India has banned the import of goods from Pakistan and barred Pakistani ships from its ports, as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate following a recent deadly attack in Kashmir that left dozens of tourists dead.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the immediate ban on all goods coming from or passing through Pakistan.

In its notification, it said, "This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy."

This move follows last week’s attack on a mountain tourist destination in the Pahalgam area of the Kashmir valley, where at least 26 people were killed.

The assault has further strained the already tense relationship between India and Pakistan.

The Kashmir region, located in the Himalayas, is a Muslim-majority territory claimed by both India and Pakistan.

The area has long been a flashpoint, having been at the center of several wars, insurgencies, and diplomatic disputes.

India has blamed Pakistan for being behind the attack, an allegation that Pakistan has denied.

In response, Pakistan has stated that it has "credible intelligence" indicating India may be planning military action.

As part of its own reaction, Pakistan has taken a series of countermeasures.

These include suspending all trade across the border, shutting down its airspace to Indian aircraft, and sending Indian diplomats back home.

Pakistan has also issued a warning that any move by India to stop the flow of river water under a long-standing treaty between the two countries would be treated as an act of war.

In a related step, India’s Directorate General of Shipping issued a statement on Saturday blocking Pakistani-flagged vessels from docking at Indian ports. Indian ships were also instructed not to visit ports in Pakistan.

"This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo, and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping," the statement read.

Trade ties between the two countries had already weakened in recent years, and the new measures are expected to bring commercial activity between the two nations to a near-complete halt.

The back-and-forth between the two neighbours adds to the growing unease in