India halts all inbound mail, parcels from Pakistan amid rising post-Pahalgam tensions

A public notice issued by the Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, confirmed the move.

“Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, ” read the notice.

The latest restriction comes on the heels of a broader clampdown by India, which has already banned both direct and indirect imports of goods from Pakistan.

Indian authorities have barred Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from docking at Pakistani ports.

The ban effectively brings to a standstill all incoming shipments from Pakistan.

As per figures reported by PTI, India’s exports to Pakistan between April and January in the 2024-25 fiscal year stood at USD 447.65 million, while imports from Pakistan were a mere USD 0.42 million.

These moves follow the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives after gunmen opened fire at the Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist destination.

According to preliminary findings by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), strong links have emerged pointing to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and elements of the Pakistan Army in planning and executing the attack, according to media reports.

One of the key suspects, Hashim Musa—also known as Suleman or Suleiman—is believed to be a former para commando in Pakistan’s special forces.

The Resistance Force (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, had initially claimed responsibility for the attack but retracted the statement under global scrutiny, calling the previous post a breach.

Subsequently, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Islamabad had used its influence at the United Nations Security Council to ensure TRF’s name was removed from the Council’s statement on the Pahalgam attack.