Pakistan strikes back: Shuts down Wagah, trade, airspace for Indian airlines

A day after India took extreme measures in light of its allegations against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad on Thursday struck back, imposing its own restrictions besides reacting to New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.

A statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) under the chair of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, said that water was a vital national interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people, and any attempts to block or divert the water allocated to the country under the treaty would be considered “an act of war”.

Islamabad also declared the military, air force and navy advisers at the Indian High Commission as persona non grata, ordering them to leave the country immediately but not later than April 30. The statement also announced limiting the number of staffers at the Indian High Commission in the federal capital to 30.

The statement announced suspending all trade relations with India, even through a third country; and added that Pakistani airspace had been closed for Indian airlines.

Additionally, the statement said that in light of India's disregard of international conventions, the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and global obligations, Pakistan could also exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desisted from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan, transnational killings, and non-adherence to international law as well as the UN Resolutions on Kashmir.

All visas issued to Indian citizens under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), except for those granted to Sikh pilgrims, have been declared null and void, the statement read, adding that Indian nationals currently in Pakistan on such visas have been instructed to leave the country within 48 hours.

Separately, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) following the meeting, expressed concern over the loss of tourists’ lives in held Kashmir.

It termed the Indian action unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit, observing that Pakistan unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “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 statement read.

The PMO's statement further said that Kashmir remained an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as recognised through multiple UN resolutions.

“Pakistan continues to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, and political and demographic gerrymandering have persistently led to an organic backlash from the people of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence.”