Pakistan shuts airspace to Indian aircraft, suspends Simla Agreement after India’s punitive action

Pakistan has announced a slew of measures in response to India’s punitive action following the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22 in which 26 people were killed.

Here is what Islamabad announced on Thursday (April 24) against what it described as “the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India”.

2. Pakistan rejected India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and warned that any diversion will be treated as an Act of War.

3. Islamabad has suspended the Simla Agreement and all bilateral agreements with India.

4. Pakistan in response has closed Wagah Border Post immediately, India already ordered to shut the crossing down as part of measures announced on Wednesday (April 23).

5. Pakistan too has suspended all SAARC visas for Indian nationals, except for Sikh religious pilgrims; another move that mirrors India’s action announced Wednesday.

6. Islamabad has declared Indian Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors persona non grata and has asked them to leave by 30 April 2025; it has also reduced Indian High Commission staff to 30 personnel. Similar steps were taken by India a day before.

7.  Pakistan has closed its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated aircraft immediately.

8. It has suspended all trade with India, including third-country routed trade.

9. Pakistan further pledged a ‘full-spectrum national power response’ to any threat against Pakistan’s sovereignty.

These decisions were taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), Pakistan’s top security body.

Earlier on Wednesday, India announced several punitive steps against Pakistan as part of a “decisive response to cross-border terrorism”.

In a major move, the government said the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan will be held in abeyance.

“The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” said Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary of India, during a press briefing.

Other key actions taken by the Indian government included:

2. It has been decided that the Attari-Wagah check post will be closed immediately.

3. Military advisors to the Pakistan High Commission have been declared persona non grata.

4. India revokes all visas to Pakistani citizens granted under the SAARC countries visa scheme.

Pakistan on Thursday said India’s move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty was an “act of war”

“India’s reckless suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is an act of water warfare; a cowardly, illegal move. Every drop is ours by right, and we will defend it with full force - legally, politically, and globally,” Pakistan’s energy minister Awais Leghari posted on X.

India’s move to suspend the water treaty is being seen as a major blow to Pakistan’s agricultural sector.