India Tightens Scrutiny on UAE, Iran Imports to Block Pakistani Goods: Following the Pahalgam attack, India ramps up inspections of Gulf imports to halt indirect entry of Pakistani-origin products
In the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, India has sealed off all direct and indirect trade routes with Pakistan and is now rigorously examining imports from Gulf nations like the UAE and Iran. This scrutiny aims to prevent Pakistani goods from slipping into the Indian market via third-party nations and transshipment hubs, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
India’s latest crackdown targets Pakistani-origin goods that may be entering under the guise of trade deals with other countries, particularly the UAE. The move comes amid rising tensions and a complete breakdown of trade relations between the two neighbours.
The Indian government has instructed customs and trade officials to intensify label verification and enforce rules of origin checks on incoming shipments, especially for products such as dates—a category in which Pakistan has historically had strong export volumes. These efforts follow earlier diplomatic concerns raised by India over Pakistani dates being rerouted into the Indian market via UAE ports, which violated the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
An official told The Economic Times that India is especially vigilant about shipments through transshipment centres like the UAE, where goods from multiple countries are consolidated. “Value addition in third countries complicates the origin-tracking process. Imports under transit are also under scrutiny, and no exemption has been stated in the official notification,” the official noted.
On May 2, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notification banning the import or transport of any goods originating from or routed through Pakistan, citing national security and public policy concerns. Exceptions require prior government approval.
Trade data underscores the complexity of India’s current position. Between April and February of FY25, India’s merchandise exports to the UAE stood at $36.63 billion, while imports reached $63.42 billion. Notably, India imported dates worth $270.4 million during the same period, with the UAE accounting for $123.82 million of this figure. At the same time, Pakistan’s exports to the UAE saw a 28% surge, hitting $1.2 billion between July 2024 and February 2025, raising concerns about product origins and re-routing.
Despite India’s imposition of a 200% tariff on Pakistani goods following the 2019 Pulwama attack, some low-volume imports continued. In FY25 (April–February), India’s direct imports from Pakistan stood at just $2.88 million, comprising items such as plant seeds, figs, dates, and malt extracts.
India had granted Pakistan most-favoured nation (MFN) status in 1996, but Islamabad never reciprocated. With recent hostilities flaring and diplomatic trust at an all-time low, India’s strict enforcement measures signal a zero-tolerance stance on trade that could support Pakistani industries, directly or indirectly.