Pakistan Sees Suspension Of Indus Water Treaty As "Act Of War"; Closes Airspace, Suspends Trade With India

In a tat-for-tat move, Pakistan on Thursday suspended all its bilateral agreements and trade activities with India. Islamabad is also closing airspace to the Indian aircraft as New Delhi downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad and suspended the Indus Water Treaty over the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan On the Suspension Of Indus Water Treaty

The decision was taken at the National Security Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In a statement, the National Security Committee said: "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".

At the Cabinet Committee of Security or CCS on Wednesday, India decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

Speaking to a TV channel, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar slammed India's approach, calling it "immature" and "hasty". "India has not given any evidence. They have not shown any maturity in their response," he added. "This is a non-serious approach. They started creating hype immediately after the incident."

The Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark water-sharing agreement, was signed on September 19, 1960, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. The pact was signed in Karachi by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Field Marshal Ayub Khan.

This distribution meant Pakistan received about 70% of the total waters of the Indus river system, even though much of the system originates in India.

The pact survived despite the three wars between India and Pakistan in 1965, 1971, and 1999.

India Suspends Visa Services

India on Thursday announced suspending visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect in line with its retaliatory measures against Islamabad in the wake of the brazen Pahalgam terror attack. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27.

It said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. The MEA said all Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of visas. It also strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan and advised those currently in the neighbouring country to return home at the earliest.