India Opens Fire at Pakistan, Bans Huawei and ZTE

Indian government has directed mobile phone companies, operating in India, to not to get engaged in any kind of business deal with Chinese telecommunications manufacturers, i.e. Huawei and ZTE, reported Indian media citing head of India’s main cellular industry trade group.

Despite the fact that Indian Government didn’t issue any official statement, however, it has stopped approving imports from Huawei and ZTE. This is not a formal policy yet, but it is being executed at full scale.

This move by the Government of India has resulted into a complete halt of all operations of Chinese Companies. Reportedly, Huawei and ZTE offices in China are in state of emergency, and are looking into all possible options to resolve the situation.

This is not the first time that India has violated World Trade Organization (WTO) norms by smacking the trade protectionism and discriminating the business activities in India.

Indian Government has always adopted this policy whenever the business entity is in any sort of relation with Pakistan or it is doing business in Pakistan.

In past, Telcordia a vendor of back-end software for wireless and fixed-line networks, sold its software to several cell phone companies in Pakistan just as it has done in 14 other countries, but Telcordia did not know its business interests will be greatly hampered in India merely due to its business relations in Pakistan.

Telenor’s fate was also not different, when Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) questioned it about operations in Pakistan.

Analysts opine anti Pakistan sentiments in India is the main reason behind fateful decisions taken against three companies, and maybe more to come.

Mindful of the fact of its business interests, besides sentiments of nationalism, India eventually resorted to give these companies the nod but only after authorities there clearly indicated they had problems with companies’ business interests in Pakistan.

Indecisive attitude and procrastination of authorities land investors in a state of doubt about seriousness of Indian government to attract foreign investment.

This is beyond any iota of doubt India is worried at unprecedented growth of Telecom in Pakistan, and this is why it has repeatedly used un-comprehendible ways to hinder growth of companies operating in Pakistan.

But the latest move by India is beyond the threshold level, according to some analysts. An official from a cellular company operating in Pakistan commented that this is rather kiddish than a security check. “It doesn’t mean that Orascom can’t operate in Pakistan as it has ties with Israel”, he said. Multinational companies are business entities and they earn business unlike what India suspects them, he concluded.

Indian government should understand multi national companies would not yield by these intimidating tactics.

Regardless of law & order situation in the country, Pakistan provides an investor friendly atmosphere, millions of heads, cheap labour, a thriving and ever expanding middle class, educated English speaking work force and lucrative returns.

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • India’s policies are too immature, conservative and cheap.

    This is good for us. Infact i hope to see China to Ban all exports to India. And than we will see how India Survives that day.

    • u r just _____ as one can expect from a Pakistani. to teach other countries a lesson you ban imports not exports. Banning exports will hurt china not India you stupid ____.

      [Comment Edited]

  • India’s loss is Pakistan’s gain. There is no better equipment and services provider than Huawei.

  • Think – India is always against Pakistani & Chinese products but as compare to Pakistani and Indian we are dedicated to watch their channels & IPL etc.

    • very true… we are dumb people, first to blame our self! I never understood the reason why, our leaders don’t have balls to at least stand up and ask for proof.

      I strongly believe this is what happens when you loose track of your religion, as history would narrate this is what happened to Israelites when pharaoh was the ruler and Moses came into picture.

  • India as always does childish acts.I think this move has not much affected Pakistan and will not affect in the future also.
    It seems that India is making troubles for itself.

  • Do not forget that these companies have big business in india and as the report mentioned “Huawei and ZTE offices in China are in state of emergency”. As like any one else, these companies have to look after their interests too, they can windup their business in Pakistan in order to get their share back in india.

    Woah kia boltay hain “jis ki lathi us ki bhans” …. aur jo halat Pakistan ke ker diay hain … hamaray pass lathi kia choti si chari bhee nahi hai :-(

    • Petty actions are not rewarded, rather they are punished. We for one should strive to put our house in better shape. Commercially India may be big, but Pakistan is not petty. India is land-locked to the West. In North, it has Himalayas, and Arabian Sea in the South. My experience with India is that there are barriers and mistrust, fed by West (in particular). The vested interests in India are as strong as in Pakistan. India had once restricted Pakistan fly-over rights, and Pakistan responded with similar ban. We lost tens of flight and India lost hundreds. Ultimately, intervention of Uncle Tom brought about Pakistan to withdraw the ban after years, despite India had learned a lesson very quickly. Keep working. Ignore them, if possible.

  • All people making comments like India is adopting stubborn policy and it creating problem for itself!

    Please be aware that India is biggest market and company can earn 10 times more than it earn in Pakistan (india population = 1 billion. pakistan 0.16 billion) .. and I doubt if those companies will continue their operation in Pakistan if their organization motive is Profit…

    We should all be worry about that those Companies shouldn’t pack up from Pakistan which will result in loss of Jobs both directly n Indirectly!

    • That’s too farfetched.

      I dont think Huawei and ZTE can pack up in Pakistan to do business in India just because of bigoted and racist policies. Besides India and China don’t get along for various reasons (if one hasn’t noticed).

    • out of those 1 billion you say how many of them do you think can even a days meal? Compare the poverty rates sometimes and then see?

  • Ammir, can you justify this false news which you just published??????
    “It doesn’t mean that Orascom can’t operate in Pakistan as it has ties with Israel”,

  • FIPB did this long back with Coca Cola in 1977 as they were not giving them the secret cola making formula.

  • Its not being India being childish, with an estimate population of 1,180,504,000 people, they need many thing to ‘control’ the people. if you go on and make 1,180,504,000 happy they will realise what the crap the govt has been feeding them. Have Pakistan (between other things) seen as a threat always and putting than on every news channel you control the mind set of the people.

  • And how again is this an attack on Pakistan? Have you not noticed India-China ties recently?

    You’re a technology blog, not a tabloid. Write the straight truth, not what people want to read.

    • Righto. In my opinion it has nothing to do with pakistan. Microsoft is also selling in pakistan so will india ban microsoft products in its country and that is just one example. they are in race with china to become super power although indians themselves should be ashamed to become super power if they just have a look in mirror. If india will ever become a super power how will it be known in west. World first stinking super power :)

  • In my view its not Pakistan who India is not worried about while banning Huawei and ZTE. Whats bothering them is the fact that networks build by chinese companies can be monitored remotely in China. India does not want that any information is sniffed by chinese this way. So its more of a national security issue and India’s decision is totally justified given the fact that India and China have fought a war in the recent past.

  • India is a cheap country with some very cheap leaders.

    I must say for India.. Dil tu bacha hai g…

    yar vo Pakistan say dartay hi itna hian. itna tu vo apnay abu say ni dertay hon gay :)

  • Hi,

    Just came across this site while surfing, was really intersted in reading some of the comments accusing India of following protectionist policy vis a vis Pakistan.

    Hmm let me ask you guys a question. which coutry banned import of Nokia mobiles having made in India tag? which country imports made in India machinery via Dubai? which country blocked import of car engines manufactured by Maruti India?

    Now I hope its clear that both countries India and Pakistan are at fault.

  • This write-up was actually properly published, and it also comprises really few of practical facts. I appreciated your professional method of writing this write-up. You may have produced it straightforward for me to totally grasp.

  • but the thing is pakistan is more interested in huawei cause not only they are cheaper but are also very professional.


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