Pakistan announced a series of retaliatory measures against India following New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading of diplomatic ties in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
In a high-level National Security Committee (NSC) meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif and attended by senior ministers and the heads of Pakistan’s armed forces, Islamabad decided to block its airspace to all Indian airlines, close the Wagah border crossing, and suspend all forms of trade with India – including transit through third countries.
The Pakistani government also announced the suspension of visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Indian citizens, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims. Furthermore, military advisers stationed at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad have been ordered to leave by April 30.
In a strongly worded statement released after the NSC meeting, Pakistan condemned India’s actions and warned of consequences. “Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty or the security of its people will be met with firm and reciprocal responses across all domains,” the statement read. It further accused India of exploiting the Pahalgam attack for political gain, calling it a “cynical and staged narrative” that undermines regional stability.
Significantly, Pakistan rejected India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, describing it as a vital lifeline for the country’s 240 million citizens. “Any attempt to divert or stop water destined for Pakistan under the treaty will be considered an act of war,” the statement emphasized.
The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with diplomatic and economic ties now at their lowest point in years.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a landmark water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, governing the use of water from the Indus River system and its tributaries. Signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi by then Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the treaty aimed to ensure equitable distribution of the river waters between the two nations.
Under the terms of the treaty, India was granted exclusive control over the waters of the three ‘Eastern Rivers’ – the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej. Meanwhile, Pakistan was given rights to the waters of the three ‘Western Rivers’ – the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum.
On April 23, 2025, in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India’s Foreign Secretary officially announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, signalling a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.
