Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines and dismissed New Delhi’s move to suspend a water-sharing treaty on Thursday, in response to India’s actions following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir.
The announcement from the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office followed a meeting of the National Security Committee, a day after India said there were cross-border elements to Tuesday’s attack, in which 26 men were shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in India.
Indian police published notices naming three terror suspects and saying two were Pakistanis, but New Delhi has not offered any proof of the linkages or shared any more details.
However, on Wednesday it downgraded ties with Pakistan, suspending a six-decade old treaty on the waters of the Indus river and closing the only land crossing between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Like India, Pakistan claims both Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as theirs.
Act Of War
“Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains,” the Pakistani statement said.
It added that any attempt to stop or divert water belonging to Pakistan would be considered an act of war.
Islamabad also said it will “exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance”, till India desists from “fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir”.
Tit-For-Tat
In retaliation to India’s expulsion of three Pakistani military attachés, Pakistan declared the Indian defence, naval, and air advisors in Islamabad as persona non grata, ordering them to leave the country by April 30. Their positions were revoked, and their supporting staff were also expelled.
Additionally, Pakistan announced that the Indian High Commission’s staff in Islamabad would be reduced to 30 members starting April 30. The Wagah border crossing will be closed, suspending all cross-border transit from India through this route. Indians who entered Pakistan via Wagah have been instructed to return by the same date.
(With inputs from Reuters)
