After Pahalgam Attack, Indian Traders Halt All Business With Pakistan

30 Apr, 2025

In response to the recent terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, Indian traders have decided to completely halt all business ties with Pakistan. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) announced the decision after a meeting of trade leaders held in Bhubaneswar. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of CAIT, stated that the business community would immediately cease all forms of imports and exports with Pakistan in protest against the brutal killing of innocent tourists.

Trade relations between India and Pakistan had already suffered after the Pulwama terrorist attack in 2019, causing a major drop in bilateral trade. From a high of nearly $3 billion in 2018, the trade volume had decreased to around $1.2 billion by 2024, according to CAIT. Between April 2024 and January 2025, India exported about $500 million worth of goods to Pakistan, mainly pharmaceuticals, chemicals, sugar, and auto parts, while imports from Pakistan were valued at only $0.42 million. Now, with the latest decision, traders have resolved to end all remaining trade activities.

The CAIT emphasized that the Indian trading community is prepared to bear any economic cost necessary to protect the unity, integrity, and security of the nation. This trade cutoff is part of a broader set of retaliatory measures taken by India against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack.

Along with other well-known channels with a total subscriber base of almost 63 million, India has also blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, and Bol News. Additional steps include suspending the Indus Water Treaty, closing the Attari check post, halting visa services for Pakistani nationals, and reducing diplomatic staff levels. India’s strong measures reflect its firm stance in response to continued acts of terror and aggression.

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