Pahalgam attack: Pakistan takes strict steps in response to India's action
Thursday, 24 April 2025
After the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has also announced to take several steps in response to India's action against Pakistan.
Several decisions were taken in the National Security Council meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday, 24 April 2025, under the chairmanship of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
These include the announcement of suspending bilateral agreements with India, closing airspace and borders and suspending trade.
Like India, Pakistan has also asked defense advisors and their assistants to leave the country. Also, it has limited its diplomatic staff.
The statement of this meeting rejected India's decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, saying that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water of Pakistan's share under this treaty would be considered an act of war and would be responded to with full force.
The statement said that in view of India's reckless and irresponsible behaviour of willfully disregarding international conventions, UN Security Council resolutions and international obligations, Pakistan will exercise the right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement, until India desists from its behaviour of promoting terrorism within Pakistan, committing killings abroad and non-compliance with UN resolutions on Kashmir.
Pakistan has announced the immediate closure of its airspace to all airlines owned or operated by India, as well as the immediate closure of the Wagah border.
However, as per the announcement, those who have crossed the border into India with valid documents can return through this route till April 30, 2025.
Pakistan has suspended all visas granted to all Indian nationals under the SAARC Visa Waiver Programme, except Sikh pilgrims, and said these should be treated as cancelled. Indian nationals residing in Pakistan on such visas have been directed to leave the country within 48 hours.
Further, the announcement said that all trade with India is also being suspended and this will also apply to trade through any third country.
Pakistan has also declared Indian defence/military advisers in Islamabad as persona non grata and asked them to leave the country immediately, while the support staff of these advisers have also been directed to return.
According to the announcement, the number of staff at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be limited to 30 from April 30, 2025.
Pakistan's National Security Council has said that in the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan are futile, irrational and a sign of logical failure.
The statement also said that Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism without any discrimination and has suffered heavy losses as a leading country in the world against terrorism.
The Council says that India's clichéd narrative of being a victim cannot hide its culpability in promoting terrorism on Pakistani soil nor can it divert attention from the systematic and human rights violations taking place in India's Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan has said that contrary to Indian claims, it has irrefutable evidence of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, including the confession of former Indian Navy officer Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav.
