"India has withdrawn MFN status to Pakistan after the Pulwama incident.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", Jaitley wrote on Twitter.
On Friday, local media reported that the Indian authorities had decided to withdraw the most favored nation (MFN) status from Pakistan during an emergency government meeting in connection with the terrorist attack in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
READ MORE: India, Pakistan to Finalize Agreement to Ease Border Crossing For Sikh Pilgrims
The blast of an improvised explosive device in Pulwama district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in India killed 45 people. The Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group, which used to perpetrate attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir state, is affiliated with Taliban movement and al-Qaeda terrorist organization and aims to separate Kashmir from India and to merge it into neighboring Pakistan.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry strongly protested attempts to link Islamabad to the terrorist attack without any investigation.
However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Friday on Pakistan to stop providing safe havens for terrorists after the deadly terror attack in India’s state of Jammu and Kashmir.
READ MORE: ‘Enemies Are Too Smart’: India Installs Laser Fence on Pakistan Border — Report
Moreover, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday that National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval had held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart John Bolton, during which the two "vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan cease to be a safe haven for JeM and terrorist groups that target India, the US and others in the region".
The two countries have gone through three wars over the region, but the conflict has not been resolved. The unstable situation in the region has led to the emergence of extremist groups.
The Line of Control currently divides the disputed area into two zones administered by the two rivals. India has repeatedly blamed Pakistan-backed militants for numerous inroads into its territory.
*Taliban, al-Qaeda are terrorist groups banned in Russia and many other countries.
