Pakistan on Thursday “strongly rejected” India’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in retaliation for the deadly militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
After a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to decide the country’s response to India’s move, Pakistan said suspending the Indus Waters Treaty would block the “lifeline of 240 million Pakistanis”.
“Strong countermeasures will be taken against any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and the security of its people in all areas. India should refrain from the blame game and dramatic, directed exploitation of incidents like Pahalgam to further its narrow political agenda,” the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water and usurp Pakistan’s rights to the downstream riparian areas under the Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an act of war and will be responded to with full force to the full extent of national power,” the statement said.
In another important announcement, Pakistan said that “all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, will remain in force until India refrains from any overt conduct such as incitement to terrorism inside Pakistan, inter-ethnic killings; and non-compliance with international law and UN resolutions on Kashmir.”
Islamabad also closed its airspace to Indian airlines and closed the Wagah border crossing, which was done in retaliation for India’s move a day earlier. ‘All trade’ routes with India through third countries were also suspended.
“Pakistan will close the Wagah border post with immediate effect. All cross-border transit from India through this route will be suspended, without exception. Those who have crossed the border with valid permits will be allowed to return through that route immediately but not later than April 30, 2025,” the statement said.
Pakistan has also suspended visas issued to Indian nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), except for Sikh religious pilgrims.
"Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES have been asked to leave the country within 48 hours, except for Sikh pilgrims," the Prime Minister's Office said.
Meanwhile, India on Thursday announced the suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals from April 27.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that all valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals have been cancelled from April 27. It said that medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that all Pakistani nationals currently in India will have to leave the country before the expiry of their visas.
It has strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan and advised those currently in neighbouring countries to return home as soon as possible.
India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced steps including expulsion of Pakistani military attaché, suspension of 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and immediate closure of Attari land-transport post in the wake of the border link with the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
"Recognizing the gravity of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security has decided to take the following steps. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty will be suspended with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly renounces its support for cross-border terrorism," Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri said on Wednesday.
The decision to take punitive measures against Pakistan was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
0 Comments