Pakistan Launches Comprehensive Countermeasures After India Halts Indus Waters Treaty Commitments
In the wake of India’s abrupt decision to halt its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan has unveiled a broad set of strategic counteractions. These measures, endorsed during an emergency National Security Committee (NSC) meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, span across the diplomatic, military, and economic arenas.
The NSC, which includes senior military commanders and top civilian officials, dismissed New Delhi’s allegations concerning the Pahalgam incident as unfounded and inflammatory. Pakistani leadership made it unequivocally clear that any obstruction of its water rights under the internationally sanctioned treaty would be interpreted as an act of war.
Pakistan has implemented the following actions:
Terminated all trade with India, putting a complete freeze on bilateral commerce.
Shut its airspace to Indian aircraft, disrupting both cargo and passenger routes.
Expelled all Indian military attachés, revoking their diplomatic status and ordering their departure.
Reduced Indian embassy staff significantly, allowing only a skeletal presence of 30 personnel.
Instructed Indian nationals in Pakistan to exit within 48 hours.
Voided all SAARC-related visas issued to Indian citizens, with an exception for Sikh pilgrims.
Closed the Wagah border crossing, a key link for cross-border travel and trade.
The NSC also weighed the broader consequences of India’s unilateral withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty—a critical water-sharing pact—and directed the Foreign Office to raise the issue at global forums. The move will be portrayed as a violation of international law and a destabilizing force in South Asia.
Assuring the nation of their readiness, Pakistan’s armed forces received full backing from the NSC to defend the country’s sovereignty and respond to any potential aggression. Further, the committee is considering freezing all existing bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Accord, depending on how events unfold.
This firm response signals a deepening rift between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with Pakistan opting for a strategic and resolute stance amid growing tensions.