Terror and Trade: Pakistan’s Hypocrisy Exposed as Imports from India Surge
New Delhi, July 25: Even as Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism, its trade relationship with India tells a different story—one of quiet economic benefit amid diplomatic hostility. In the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, fresh trade data reveals that Pakistan’s imports from India have actually surged, exposing Islamabad’s duplicity.
According to a Dawn report, Pakistan’s imports from India climbed to $220.58 million in FY25 (July–June), up from $206.89 million the previous year. While exports to India remained stagnant at $1.43 million, the trade gap between the two countries widened significantly, favoring India by over $200 million. This economic exchange continues despite Pakistan’s public posturing against India, raising questions over its contradictory foreign and trade policies.
The wider regional picture paints a similarly troubling trend. Pakistan’s imports from nine neighboring countries—including China, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan—jumped by 20.66% in FY25 to $16.698 billion, while exports grew by just 1.49%, totaling $4.401 billion. Consequently, Pakistan’s regional trade deficit ballooned to $12.297 billion, marking a 29.42% increase from the previous year.
China stands out as the biggest contributor to this growing imbalance. Pakistan’s imports from China surged by 20.79% to $16.312 billion, while its exports to the country fell 8.6% to $2.476 billion. This decline further deepens the economic dependence on China and reflects an increasingly fragile trade structure.
Although exports to nations like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka saw minor growth, the sheer scale of imports from regional powerhouses has widened the trade gap substantially. Despite some efforts to strengthen ties with neighboring markets, Pakistan’s inability to diversify its exports and increase domestic production is worsening its economic vulnerability.
What makes the situation even more controversial is that Pakistan continues to engage economically with India even as it allegedly sponsors violence against Indian civilians. This stark disconnect between words and actions has fueled criticism of Islamabad’s credibility on the international stage.
In light of the Pahalgam attack and this emerging economic data, questions are being raised about Pakistan’s sincerity in maintaining peace while reaping benefits from trade partnerships—especially with the very country it continues to provoke.
