India hikes customs duty on all goods from Pakistan to 200 per cent
New Delhi, Feb 16 (IBNS): A day after withdrawing Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status of Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama attack, India on Saturday hiked customs duty on all goods exported from the neighbouring nation to 200 per cent with an immediate effect.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted, "India has withdrawn MFN status to Pakistan after the Pulwama incident. Upon withdrawal, basic customs duty on all goods exported from Pakistan to India has been raised to 200% with immediate effect."
India has withdrawn MFN status to Pakistan after the Pulwama incident. Upon withdrawal, basic customs duty on all goods exported from Pakistan to India has been raised to 200% with immediate effect. #Pulwama
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 16, 2019
The steps have been taken two days after Pakistan-based militant organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed, carried out an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast which left at least 40 Indian paramilitary personnel martyred.
What had happened?
Militants rammed an IED-laden vehicle into a vehicle carrying CRPF at Goripora, Awantipora on Thursday afternoon.
According to reports, the vehicle used by the terrorists was a Mahindra Scorpio and it carried more than 350 kg of explosives.
The attack left 14 CRPF jawans injured.
Pak-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed its responsibility behind the attack.
The ‘Fidayeen' (who carried out the suicide attack) has been identified as Adil Ahmad, a resident of Kakapora in Pulwama.
India blames Pakistan:
India on Thursday said it strongly condemned "the cowardly terrorist attack on our brave security forces in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir earlier today" by Pakistan based terrorists claiming the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel.
"This heinous and despicable act has been perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries. This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar, who has been given full freedom by Government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity," said India's Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
"The Government of India is firmly and resolutely committed to take all necessary measures to safeguard national security. We are equally resolved to fight against the menace of terrorism. We demand that Pakistan stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory and dismantle the infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries," it said.
Pakistan denies link:
Denying any link with the deadly terrorist attack in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, Pakistan said the incident is a "matter of grave concern".
Rejecting any of its links to the attack, Pakistan said: "We have always condemned heightened acts of violence in the Valley. We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in the Indian government and media circles that seek to link the attack to the State of Pakistan without investigations."
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