Pakistan suspends trade with India, says diverting Indus water ‘an act of war’, closes air space
A day after India took several diplomatic measures against Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad said Thursday it “shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.”
On Wednesday, India put on hold the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, expelled diplomats and top defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, cancelled all visas granted to Pakistan nationals and directed them to leave the country in 48 hours, and shut the Attari-Wagah border.
The reaction from Pakistan came after the country’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC).
A statement from its Prime Minister’s Office said Pakistan “vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance” and 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”.
“Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines… all trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan, is suspended forthwith.”
It also said that it will be shutting down the Wagah border post, and reducing the strength of the High Commission to 30 and expelling the Defence services officials from the Indian High Commission, in a tit-for-tat move.
