• The National Security Committee promises to respond to Indian provocations with all force
• The airspace closed for the airplanes of India, the closure of the Wagah border, the trade was completely arrested, all the visas canceled, except for the Sijs pilgrims
• Islamabad to keep all the treaties in suspense if Delhi continues along the path of climbing
• NSC Violence ends in the organic reaction of Kashmiro to decades of state oppression “
• The defense minister says that Intel evaluations apprehend the Indian plans of ‘total terrorism in Pakistani’ cities
Islamabad: Pakistan delivered on Thursday a specific response to the radical punitive measures of India after Pahalgam’s attack, revealing a series of strong countermeasures, including a prohibition of the airspace of the airspace of the Indian airlines, the complete suspension of bilateral trade and a marked warning that any interruption of the flow flows would be treated as a “act of war.”
The decisions, adopted during an emergency session of the National Security Committee (NSC), also included the possible suspension of all bilateral agreements, especially the Simla Agreement of 1972.
The session, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended the key cabinet ministers, the senior government attendees, the chiefs of services, the intelligence officials and the senior government officials, was convened in response to aggressive Indian measures after the attack of the pahalgama in Kashmir of Indian children, who charged 26 lives.
The actions of India included suspending the Treaty of the Water of the Indo (IWT), reduce the diplomatic presence, close the border crossing of Attari, cancel the privileges of Visa de Saarc for Pakistani and promising to intensify internal security.
When describing the actions of New Delhi as “belligerents”, the NSC reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, but made it clear that he would not tolerate sovereignty violations or critical issues of national interest.
‘War’ about water
The NSC rejected the unilateral suspension of the Indo Water Treaty, warning that any attempt to divert or stop water flows would be treated as a “act of war”, and responded strongly.
“Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Treaty of the Indo Water in Abilement. The Treaty is a binding international agreement negotiated by the World Bank and does not contain any disposition for unilateral suspension,” said the statement of NSC.
“Water is a vital national interest in Pakistan, a life line for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs,” the committee emphasized.
Attorney General Awan, addressing journalists after the meeting, said the Indo Water Treaty could not be unilaterally altered. “If the treaty is going to end, then it would end an agreement between the two countries,” he said.
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan according to the Treaty of the Waters of the Indo, and the usurpation of the rights of Low Ribrario will be considered as an act of war and responded with full force through the complete spectrum of the national power,” the NSC warned.
Tit-for-Bat
In addition to the warning of military repercussions, the main civil-military forum of Pakistan also threatened to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, which include the SIMLA agreement, which supports the control line (LOC) that divides the disputed Cashmir region.
“Observing the reckless and irresponsible behavior of India, which ignores international conventions, the resolutions of the UN Security Council and international obligations at will, Pakistan will exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including, among others transnationals;
Speaking at a press conference, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, supported the position, reiterating that “a unilateral action is not accepted and that in case of any interruption of the water flows, Pakistan will take measures, keeping Simla in suspense and other treaties can be considered.”
He pointed out that the Demarche of India to the Pakistani diplomats, who described his decisions, curiously omitted any reference to the IWT, although a separate letter from the Secretary of Water from India to his Pakistani counterpart explicitly declared the treaty “in an immediate state with an immediate effect.”
Pakistan’s retaliation steps included reflected responses and staggered measures. The NSC ordered the immediate closure of the Wagah border crossing, suspending all cross -border traffic without exception. People who had crossed with valid documents could return until April 30, 2025.
In addition, all visas issued under the SAARC (SVE) visa exemption scheme to Indian citizens were canceled, with the exception of Sijs religious pilgrims. The Indians in Pakistan under Sve were aimed at leaving within 48 hours. Pakistan also declared Advisors of Indian, Naval and Aerial Defense in Islamabad Person Non Grata, who demanded that their support staff leave the country before April 30.
The high commission of India in Islamabad received the order to reduce its staff to 30 diplomats and staff members, also before April 30.
In an additional escalation, Pakistan closed their airspace to all Indian property or Indian property airlines, and suspended all the trade with India, including indirect trade in third countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister framed these actions as proportional. “These are Tit actions by OT, a minimum response. Whatever they are done to us, they will be done,” he told reporters.
Rejected guilt game
As the diplomatic channels dry and the treaties of the treaties are wobble, analysts warn that relationships between nuclear weapons neighbors can approach a dangerous turning point, with a remaining limited space for decallation.
The National Security Forum rejected what it called the “guilt game” of India warning that such accusations without evidence obstruct regional peace and the risk of additional destabilization.
“India should refrain from its reflexive guilt game and the cynical and administered exploitation of incidents such as Pahalgam to promote its close political agenda. Such tactics only serve to inflame tensions and obstruct the path to peace and stability in the region,” reads the statement.
In the presster, FM Dar stressed the position of Pakistan. “India has often played the guilt game and if there is evidence of Pakistan’s participation, I should share it with us and the world,” he said, challenging New Delhi to corroborate his claims with verifiable evidence.
The NSC reiterated the Pakistan’s position of long data that Jammu and Kashmiro remain a “unresolved dispute” on the UN agenda, framing the disturbances in the region as a natural consequence of Indian’s tactics. “Violence in Jammu and Kashmiro occupied by the Indians is an organic reaction of decades of state oppression, illegal demographic engineering and denial of fundamental rights to the people of Cashmiro,” said the NSC.
The statement also accused New Delhi of carrying out the systemic persecution of Muslims and suppressing dissent through force.
In addition, he cited the supposed role of India in the destabilization of Pakistan, specifically highlighting the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian naval officer condemned by espionage and terrorism in Pakistan.
The NSC condemned the “implicit threats” of India and accused her of participating in “extraterritorial murders sponsored by the State”, referring to multiple cases exposed by Pakistan and other countries and documented by international media. The Committee warned that “any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and for the security of its people will meet reciprocal measures of the company.”
‘Ready for the Indian terrorist wave’
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking in the information session after the meeting, said that India was already fighting a “low intensity conflict” against Pakistan. “If they seek to increase the scale, we will respond and we will not be under international pressure,” he said.
He delivered a forceful warning about the possible consequences of an intensified campaign. “There should be no doubt: we will defend our territorial sovereignty and integrity.” He added that intelligence evaluations indicate that India may be preparing “a war of total terrorism in Pakistani cities.”
“We are fully prepared for this wave of terrorism,” said Asif. “It will be Tit-For-Tat. If our citizens are not safe in our cities, if there are attacks against them, then Indian citizens will not be safe.”
The minister warned: “If even a Pakistani citizen is harmed in an attack perpetrated in India or with Indian orbels, we will make the Indians pay through their noses.”
Posted in Dawn, April 25, 2025
