“Act of war:” Pakistan suspends visas, closes air space over New Delhi’s hostile measures

In response to India’s aggressive actions following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan firmly rejected New Delhi's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any attempt to block the flow of water allocated to Pakistan would be considered an ‘act of war.’

A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by top civil and military leadership, was convened to discuss the situation.

The meeting was held in response to what Pakistan has termed a “false flag operation” by India in Pahalgam.

The committee unanimously rejected India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. The statement noted, “Water is Pakistan’s vital national interest and the lifeline of 240 million citizens. We will defend our water rights at all costs.”

The NSC also condemned India’s “irresponsible conduct” and its continued violations of international agreements. The statement added that Pakistan reserves the right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement, unless India halts its interference and ends terrorism on Pakistani soil.

Read: India should remember the Abhinandan episode before violating Pakistan's airspace: Khawaja Asif

Further, Pakistan stressed that any future dialogue with India would be conditional upon the latter’s implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Among the key decisions taken during the meeting:

All land movement through the Wagah border has been suspended.

Visas issued to Indian citizens under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme have been canceled. Indian nationals in Pakistan under this scheme have been ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. However, Sikh pilgrims are exempted from this restriction.

Indian defense, naval, and air advisors in Islamabad have been declared persona non grata and instructed to leave Pakistan by April 30, 2025. Their positions in the Indian High Commission are now void, and their supporting staff have also been ordered to return to India.

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be restricted to a maximum of 30 personnel, effective April 30.

Pakistan has closed its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated flights with immediate effect.

Check: Experts fear LOC escalation as Indian media, Hindu nationalists accuse Pakistan of Pahalgam attack

All trade with India, including via third countries, has been suspended.

The NSC asserted that India’s recent actions would be met with “full national force.” It also stated that India’s increasing aggression validates the Two-Nation Theory and vindicates the concerns once raised by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, the committee said the country would never compromise on its sovereignty, dignity, or security. It emphasized that Pakistan’s armed forces remain fully prepared to respond to any threat, citing the 2019 retaliatory strike after Indian aggression as a precedent.

The committee further condemned India’s continued illegal occupation of Kashmir, terming it a gross violation of UN resolutions. It also denounced the use of the Pahalgam incident for political gains, calling it a reflection of India’s “malicious mindset.”

The statement highlighted that Kulbhushan Jadhav remains living proof of India’s state-sponsored terrorism.

Finally, the NSC reiterated that Pakistan stands as a front-line state in the global war against terrorism and dismissed Indian propaganda as baseless and ineffective.