Wed Apr 30 00:50:00 UTC 2025: ## India Restricts Pharmaceutical Exports to Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions
**New Delhi, India** – Following a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India is taking steps to increase pressure on Pakistan. The Department of Pharmaceuticals is urgently collecting data on all pharmaceutical and related products exported to Pakistan. This information is being requested from the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).
The move is part of a broader strategy to exert economic pressure on Pakistan, which is already facing significant financial challenges. While direct trade between the two countries is relatively low, a significant amount of Indian goods, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and e-commerce products, reach Pakistan via third countries like the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. Estimates suggest over $10 billion worth of Indian goods are annually routed through these channels to Pakistan. The Indian government is considering restricting exports of electronics and e-commerce goods through these third-party channels as well.
Pakistan is the 38th largest importer of Indian pharmaceutical products globally, according to Indian government data. Officials believe that curbing exports through the UAE, a major trade hub for Pakistan, will significantly impact the country.
This escalation of tensions follows a pattern observed after previous incidents like the Balakot airstrikes and the revocation of Article 370. India has already taken steps to restrict water flow under the Indus Waters Treaty and ordered the immediate departure of Pakistani citizens from the country. Furthermore, India has conducted significant military exercises involving Rafale fighter jets, while its navy remains on high alert. In response, Pakistan has suspended its airspace to Indian flights and threatened to disregard the Simla Agreement and other bilateral treaties.
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