A day after India determined to carry the Indus Water Treaty at abeyance, Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office mentioned any such try could be seen as an “act of war”. The nation additionally introduced a sequence of retaliatory actions together with blocking its airspace for India and suspension of all commerce actions.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee comprising prime civilian and army management held its assembly chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday (April 24, 2025).
Follow Pahalgam assault updates on April 24
Pakistan additionally introduced the suspension of commerce, bilateral accords, together with the Simla Agreement, amongst different strikes in retaliation to New Delhi’s measures towards the nation within the wake of the Pahalgam assault.
“Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance…,” mentioned an announcement launched after the National Security Committee (NSC) assembly.
The Committee noticed that Kashmir stays an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India and reiterated its stand that Kashmiris have the precise of self-determination. While “unequivocally” condemning the terror assault, the Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office said, “In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic.”
The Committee determined to “vehemently reject” the Indian announcement to carry the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. “The Treaty is a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank and contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a Vital National Interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs. Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power,” an announcement learn.
In retaliation, Pakistan has determined to maintain all bilateral agreements with India, together with the Shimla Pact in abeyance. Pakistan shall shut down the Wagah Border Post, with rapid impact and all cross-border transit from India by means of this route shall be suspended, with out exception. Those who’ve crossed with legitimate endorsements could return by means of that route instantly however not later than April 30, 2025.
Just like India, Pakistan too has suspended all visas underneath SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals, however gave exception to Sikh pilgrims. It urged Indians in Pakistan to go away inside 48 hours.
Declaring the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad as ‘persona non grata’, the nation has requested them to go away by April 30, 2025. The power of Indian High Commission in Islamabad shall be diminished to 30 diplomats and employees members, with impact from April 30, 2025.
Pakistan’s airspace might be closed with rapid impact for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airways. All commerce with India, together with to and from any third nation by means of Pakistan, has additionally been suspended.
The power of Indian High Commission in Islamabad might be diminished to 30 diplomats and employees members
The National Security Committee additionally mentioned the nation’s armed forces stay “fully capable and prepared” to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity towards any misadventure.
Expressing concern over the lack of vacationers’ lives, the Committee reviewed the Indian measures introduced on 23 April 2025 and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extraordinarily irresponsible and devoid of authorized benefit
The National Security Committee made the next observations:
Kashmir stays an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as acknowledged by means of a number of UN resolutions. Pakistan continues to assist the precise of self-determination of the Kashmiri individuals. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, political and demographic gerrymandering, has persistently led to an natural backlash from the individuals of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence. India’s systemic persecution of minorities, notably Muslims, has grow to be extra pervasive. Attempts at pressured passage of Waqf Bill is the newest effort to marginalize Muslims throughout India. India should resist the temptation to take advantage of such tragic incidents to its benefit and take full duty for its failure to offer safety to the individuals
Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its types and manifestations. As the world’s front-line state towards terrorism, Pakistan has suffered immense human and financial losses. Indian makes an attempt to inject volatility within the atmosphere alongside Pakistan’s Eastern borders is geared toward distracting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable proof, makes an attempt to hyperlink the Pahalgam assault with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic.
India’s worn-out narrative of victimhood can not obfuscate its personal culpability in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil, nor can it distract consideration from its systematic and state sponsored oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK
Contrary to Indian claims, Pakistan has in its custody incontrovertible proof of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, together with the confession of a serving Indian Navy officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who stays a residing testomony to India’s state-sponsored terrorist actions
The National Security Committee deplored the implicit risk contained within the Indian assertion of 23 April 2025. The worldwide neighborhood ought to stay conscious of India’s state sponsored extraterritorial assassinations or makes an attempt on overseas soil. These heinous acts had been carried out in blatant violation of worldwide regulation as lately uncovered by Pakistan along-with numerous different states with simple proof. Pakistan will pursue all these accountable, planners and perpetrators alike and make sure that justice is served. Any risk to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the safety of its individuals might be met with agency reciprocal measures in all domains
India ought to chorus from its reflexive blame recreation and cynical staged managed exploitation of incidents like Pahalgam to additional its slim political agenda. Such techniques serve solely to inflame tensions and hinder the trail to peace and stability within the area
Extremely irresponsible warmongering Indian state managed media, fueling volatility within the regional calculus is reprehensive, which requires severe introspection
The Committee determined the next:
Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to carry the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Treaty is a binding worldwide settlement brokered by the World Bank and comprises no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a Vital National Interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million individuals and its availability might be safeguarded in any respect prices. Any try and cease or divert the move of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of decrease riparian might be thought-about as an Act of War and responded with full power throughout the whole spectrum of National Power.
Noting the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards worldwide conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and worldwide obligations at will, Pakistan shall train the precise to carry all bilateral agreements with India together with however not restricted to Simla Agreement in abeyance, until India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to worldwide regulation and UN Resolutions on Kashmir
Pakistan shall shut down the Wagah Border Post, with rapid impact. All cross-border transit from India by means of this route shall be suspended, with out exception. Those who’ve crossed with legitimate endorsements could return by means of that route instantly however not later than 30 April 2025
Pakistan suspends all visas underneath SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with rapid impact, aside from Sikh non secular pilgrims. Indian nationals at the moment in Pakistan underneath SVES are instructed to exit inside 48 hours, much less Sikh pilgrims
Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to go away Pakistan instantly however not later than 30 April 2025. These posts within the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support employees of those Advisors are additionally directed to return to India
The power of Indian High Commission in Islamabad might be diminished to 30 diplomats and employees members, with impact from 30 April 2025
Pakistan’s airspace might be closed with rapid impact for all Indian owned or Indian operated airways. All commerce with India together with to and from any third nation by means of Pakistan has additionally been suspended.
The National Security Committee additionally mentioned the nation’s armed forces stay “fully capable and prepared” to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity towards any misadventure.
Published – April 24, 2025 05:24 pm IST
