Pakistan retaliates to India’s moves: Trade, ties and flights off-limits

ISLAMABAD
Pakistan while giving forceful reply in regard to Indian steps has ordered Indian citizens except Sikh Yatris to quit the country within 48 hours.
Declaring Indian defence, Naval and air advisors in Pakistan persona non grata has directed them to leave country till April 30. These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support staff of these Advisers are also directed to return to India.
The strength of Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025.
Announcing to close its airspace immediately for India, Pakistan suspended its all trade with India.
Military leadership said in unequivocal terms that befitting reply will be given to any aggression or adventurism from India.
Water is a vital national interest of Pakistan. This is life line for 240 million people. Its availability will be protected at every cost. World Bank (WB) will be resorted to in connection with Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) was held in Islamabad Thursday with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.
Meeting was attended by deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar, defence minister Khawaja Asif, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, information minister Ata Tarar, Azam Nazir Tarar and other ministers.
Special advisor to PM Tariq Fatmi, Attorney General (AG) Mansoor Usman Awan were also present in the meeting.
Senior military leadership, members of NSC and other senior officers also attended the meeting.
As per declaration of the meeting the participants discussed the national security environment and the regional situation, particularly in the wake of Pahalgam attack in the Anantnag District of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday last.
NSC expressed satisfaction over operational preparedness of armed forces.
Noting the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will, 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; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.
The forum decided that 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.
The NSC said Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to leave Pakistan immediately but not later than 30 April 2025. These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support staff of these Advisers are also directed to return to India.
The strength of Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025.
The committee further decided that 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 National Security Committee underscored that Pakistan and its Armed Forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure, as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019.
It said India’s belligerent measures have vindicated the Two- Nation Theory as well as the apprehensions of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as encapsulated in the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, which continues to echo the sentiments of the complete Pakistani Nation.
The Pakistani Nation remains committed to peace, but will never allow anyone to transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and their inalienable rights.
Expressing concern over the loss of tourists’ lives, the Committee reviewed the Indian measures announced yesterday and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit.
The forum observed that Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as recognized through multiple UN resolutions. Pakistan continues to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, political and demographic gerrymandering, has persistently led to an organic backlash from the people of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence. India’s systemic persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims, has become more pervasive. Attempts at forced passage of Waqf Bill is the latest effort to marginalize Muslims across India.
It added that India must resist the temptation to exploit such tragic incidents to its advantage and take full responsibility for its failure to provide security to the people.
The NSC convened on Thursday warned: “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.”
The statement also noted that India’s behaviour is reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations
It said Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As the world’s front-line state against terrorism, Pakistan has suffered immense human and economic losses. Indian attempts to inject volatility in the environment along Pakistan’s Eastern borders are aimed at distracting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic.
The committee said India’s worn-out narrative of victimhood cannot obfuscate its own culpability in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil, nor can it distract attention from its systematic and state sponsored oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK.
Contrary to Indian claims, Pakistan has in its custody incontrovertible proof of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, including the confession of a serving Indian Navy officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who remains a living testament to India’s state-sponsored terrorist activities.
Pakistani nation is determined for peace but will not allow any one to violate its sovereignty, security , dignity and its indivisible rights.
India should refrain from stage managed exploitation in cinemas for moving ahead its narrow political agenda through its self made blame game and incidents like Pahalgam. Such tactics only fan tension and become hurdle on the way to peace and stability in the region.