Pakistan to consider any diversion of water by India under suspended Indus Treaty as 'act of war'

Pakistan on Thursday asked India to refrain from its “reflexive blame game and cynical, stage-managed exploitation” of incidents like the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir to advance its narrow political agenda.

Following a meeting of its National Security Committee (NSC), Pakistan stated that any attempt by India to halt or divert Pakistan's share of water under the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an 'act of war'.

“Such tactics only inflame tensions and hinder peace and stability in the region,” read an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office issued after the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by senior civil and military leadership.

The NSC reviewed the national security environment and regional situation, particularly after the April 22 attack in "Anantnag district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)".

Key decisions taken by NSC:

• Pakistan strongly rejects India’s announcement to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
• Any attempt by India to halt or divert Pakistan’s rightful share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty—or to violate the rights of a lower riparian state—will be treated as an Act of War and met with a decisive response across the full spectrum of national power.
• Pakistan will shut down the Wagah Border Post with immediate effect. All cross-border transit from India through this route is suspended without exception. Individuals who previously crossed into Pakistan with valid documentation may return via Wagah, but no later than April 30, 2025.
• Pakistan shall exercise its right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, until India ceases its involvement in terrorism within Pakistan, transnational killings, and violations of international law and UN resolutions on Kashmir.
• All visas issued to Indian nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) are suspended and deemed cancelled with immediate effect, except for Sikh religious pilgrims. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES are instructed to leave the country within 48 hours, with the same exemption applying to Sikh pilgrims.
• Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata, directing them to leave the country immediately, and no later than April 30, 2025. Their posts at the Indian High Commission are considered annulled. Supporting staff are also instructed to return to India.
• The Indian High Commission’s diplomatic strength in Islamabad is to be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, effective April 30, 2025.
• Pakistan’s airspace is closed with immediate effect to all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines.
• All trade with India, including transit trade via any third country through Pakistan, is suspended immediately.

The NSC reaffirmed that Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India, as acknowledged in numerous UN resolutions. Pakistan continues to support the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination.

Indian response termed 'unjust, politically driven'

While expressing concern over the loss of tourist lives, the committee termed India’s response on April 23 as unilateral, unjust, politically driven, extremely irresponsible, and lacking legal basis.

The committee also condemned the implicit threats in India’s statement and warned the international community to remain alert to India’s state-sponsored extraterritorial assassinations or attempts abroad.

“These heinous acts, recently exposed by Pakistan and other countries with undeniable evidence, violate international law,” the statement said, adding that Pakistan would pursue all responsible—planners and perpetrators alike—to ensure justice is served.

“Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures across all domains.”

Alongside the above measures, the NSC reiterated that Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India, as recognized by numerous United Nations resolutions. Pakistan, it said, remains steadfast in supporting the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination.

It noted that India’s continued state oppression, revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and political and demographic engineering have triggered an organic backlash in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), perpetuating cycles of violence.

The statement also condemned India’s growing persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims. “The attempted forced passage of the Waqf Bill is the latest effort to marginalize Muslims across India. India must refrain from exploiting such tragic incidents for political gain and take full responsibility for its failure to ensure public safety,” it added.

The NSC said India’s attempts to stir volatility along Pakistan’s eastern borders are aimed at derailing Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. It dismissed efforts to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack as baseless, irrational, and lacking credible evidence.

“India’s worn-out narrative of victimhood cannot mask its own complicity in sponsoring terrorism on Pakistani soil, nor can it divert attention from its systematic state-led oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK,” the statement said.

Contrary to Indian claims, the NSC stressed that Pakistan holds undeniable evidence of Indian-sponsored terrorism, including the confession of serving Indian Navy officer Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who remains a living testament to India’s state-sponsored subversive activities.

Tensions rise following deadly attack

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after gunmen killed 26 people — all Indian nationals except one Nepali — in the deadliest civilian attack in the Himalayan region in over two decades.

The assault took place on Tuesday in the popular tourist town of Pahalgam, where visitors were enjoying serene mountain views when gunmen emerged from nearby forests and opened fire with automatic weapons.

The killings have stunned New Delhi, marking a shift from more frequent attacks on Indian security forces to targeting civilians and the region’s crucial tourism sector.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “heinous act” and vowed justice. Speaking at a rally in Bihar, Modi folded his hands in prayer to honor the victims, urging the crowd to do the same.

“We will pursue them to the ends of the earth,” Modi said, referring to the perpetrators.