India Aims to Shut Its Trade Routes to Pak

Many Indian goods now take circuitous routes to Pakistan

- Dhirendra Kumar

India is planning to urge its trading partners to block shipments of Indian goods to Pakistan through their countries, according to three people familiar with the development. The move comes after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty, which is critical to Pakistan's agriculture, and seeks to pin the country down on the economic front.

While bilateral trade between India and Pakistan has practically hit its nadir, some Indian goods do land up in the northwestern neighbour through third countries and transshipment hubs. Pakistan depends significantly on essential goods from India, including fruits, vegetables, medicines, organic chemicals, and sugar.

India's latest plan involves engaging with key countries such as the UAE, Oman, and Qatar in a bid to choke off their backdoor channels, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

In parallel, the Centre is looking to initiate discussions with major transshipment hubs—especially ports in Dubai, Singapore, and Colombo—to curb the diversion of India-made goods to Pakistan via these routes, said one of the three people cited above.