Pakistan on Thursday has imposed sweeping retaliatory measures against India, including halting bilateral trade, revoking airspace access, and suspending major diplomatic accords, following India’s drastic policy shifts after the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in India-held Kashmir.
The incident, which saw gunmen open fire on unarmed tourists in the picturesque valley, left 26 people dead and 17 injured — the highest civilian toll in Kashmir since 2000. Indian media linked the assault to a group called The Resistance Front, alleging involvement from across the border — a claim firmly denied by Pakistan.
Indus Waters Treaty Suspended by India
In a stunning move, India unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — a World Bank-brokered accord signed in 1960 that has survived wars and decades of hostility. Pakistan, terming the act “an open provocation,” rejected the Indian stance and declared the treaty a binding international agreement with no clause for unilateral withdrawal.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) convened an emergency session in Islamabad, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The high-level meeting included senior ministers, the national security adviser, and heads of the armed forces. The NSC condemned the Indian measures, branding them “unjustified, politically motivated, and dangerously reckless.”
Pakistan’s Retaliatory Measures
As part of its immediate counter-response, Pakistan announced the following:
• Suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement, putting all bilateral agreements “in abeyance until India alters its hostile posture.”
• Closure of the Wagah Border crossing, with a deadline of April 30 for all Indians who entered with valid travel documents to return.
• Suspension of trade, including transit trade through Pakistan to third countries.
• Closure of Pakistan’s airspace to all Indian-owned and operated airlines, effective immediately.
• Visa cancellations under the Saarc Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for all Indian nationals except Sikh pilgrims visiting religious shrines.
• Expulsion of Indian defence, naval, and air advisers from Islamabad, instructing them and their staff to leave the country by April 30.
• Reduction of Indian High Commission staff to a maximum of 30 individuals.
Firm Warning on Water Diversion
The NSC issued a stark warning on India’s suspension of the water treaty:
“Water is a vital interest for Pakistan’s 240 million people. Any attempt to stop or divert water in violation of the IWT will be deemed an Act of War, and met with full force across all domains of national power.”
India’s Diplomatic Clampdown
Simultaneously, New Delhi blocked access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Government of Pakistan for Indian users. It also summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and directed all Pakistani nationals in India to leave by April 29.
India’s BJP-led government, citing intelligence sources, accused two Pakistani nationals from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba of involvement in the Pahalgam massacre. However, India’s own opposition leaders questioned the security lapses and intelligence failure, calling for a transparent investigation.
Media, Narrative, and Escalating Tensions
Indian state-controlled media came under fire from Pakistan, with the NSC calling it an “extremely irresponsible warmongering machine”. Pakistani officials alleged India was deliberately injecting volatility along the border to distract from its internal failings in occupied Kashmir.
Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, speaking on national television, termed India’s actions as “immature and reactionary.” He emphasized that Pakistan had offered condolences for the Pahalgam victims and called for a joint international investigation — which India ignored.
Risk of Renewed Crisis
Regional analysts, including Michael Kugelman, warned that the standoff may snowball into the most dangerous Indo-Pak crisis since the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot standoff. Kugelman emphasized that India’s unilateral decisions, especially on water treaties, could trigger long-term disputes with global repercussions.
India Accused of Exploiting Tragedy
Pakistan’s leadership reiterated its rejection of India’s allegations, calling them “Jokey and fatuous, unsubstantiated, and politically exploitative.” They blamed India of using the attack to divert attention from its failures in Kashmir and marginalize dissenting voices before elections.
The NSC also referred to India’s “state-sponsored extraterritorial assassinations,” vowing to track down the perpetrators of these cross-border operations.
Call to action for Peace – But on Equal Footing
Despite the aggressive posture, Pakistan’s PMO reaffirmed Islamabad’s dedication to regional peace, saying:
“The Pakistani nation stands for peace but will never allow aggression to go unanswered. We are highly assured to defend our sovereignty, water rights, territorial integrity, and national dignity at all costs.”