Pakistan Cites Right To Suspend "All Bilateral Pacts, Including Simla"

With its back to the wall, Pakistan today decided to mirror India's actions after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 tourists were killed. Islamabad threatened to suspend all agreements between the two countries, including the Simla pact of 1972, which validates the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

India has ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country by April 29 and suspended all visas, including medical ones as well as permits given to diplomats and others under the SAARC scheme. New Delhi also announced that the Indus Waters Treaty, which was signed in 1960 and had survived through the wars of 1965, 1971, and 1999, is now suspended indefinitely.

In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan also announced that it will reduce Indian diplomatic staff at the High Commission to 30 persons. India had announced the same yesterday. Both countries have now declared its air force and naval diplomats and their support staff at the respective High Commissions as Persona Non Grata.

THREAT TO SIMLA AGREEMENT

Islamabad has stirred up a hornet's nest with its claim that "Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan".

This announcement is significant because the Simla Agreement, which was signed after the 1971 war makes provision for the ceasefire line to be known as the Line of Control or LoC - which is where the armies of the two nations are stationed. Should Pakistan suspend the Simla Agreement, it will put a question on the validity of the Line of Control.

RESPONSE TO INDUS TREATY SUSPENSION

Stung by India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan said, "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."

Pakistan, which faces an acute water shortage, is staring at a grave situation should the Indus and two other rivers - Jhelum and Chenab - which flow into the country be diverted or stopped, with tens of millions of people getting affected.

ON BORDER, VISAS, AND TRADE

Some other steps taken by Pakistan in its response to India's actions over the Pahalgam terror attack include:

• Pakistan shall close down the Wagah Border Post, with immediate effect. All cross-border transit from India through this route shall be suspended, without exception. Those who have crossed with valid endorsements may return through that route immediately but not later than 30 April 2025.
• Pakistan suspends all visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deems them cancelled with immediate effect, with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES are instructed to exit within 48 hours, less Sikh pilgrims.
• 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.

The Pakistani statement also said that its "armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," adding that it will "never allow anyone to transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and their inalienable rights".