In a major development, the National Security Committee (NSC) has warned that any move by India to divert the flow of water, lawfully belonging to Pakistan, will be considered an act of war.
The warning was issued in a strongly worded communiqué following a high-level NSC — the top civil-military decision-making body — meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday.
The NSC categorically rejected India’s unilateral decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling the agreement vital for regional stability. It emphasised that water is a crucial national interest and the lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis, affirming Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to protect its water rights at all costs.
“If the flow of water owned by Pakistan is blocked or diverted, it will be deemed a declaration of war,” the NSC stated.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and ban the entry of Pakistani nationals after 26 tourists were gunned down in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam.
As part of its immediate response, the government announced the restriction of the Indian High Commission’s diplomatic staff in Islamabad to a maximum of 30 personnel, effective April 30.
Additionally, Pakistan has closed its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated flights with immediate effect.
The committee also decided to suspend all forms of trade with India, including those routed through third countries. Furthermore, it announced the immediate closure of the Wagah Border crossing.
The NSC vowed that Pakistan would respond to India’s hostile actions with full national strength, declaring that the nation and its armed forces are fully prepared to counter any form of aggression.
The communiqué also noted that India’s actions validate the Two-Nation Theory and confirm the apprehensions expressed by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Despite the provocations, the NSC reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan remain committed to peace.
Islamabad’s response comes after India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) laid out five measures which New Delhi has termed as “decisive response to cross-border terrorism”.
The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and India, facilitated by the World Bank. It gives India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) of the Indus basin while it gives Pakistan authority over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab).
The other measures include the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari as well as the issuance of a deadline for Pakistanis to leave the country before May 1, 2025.
Also, Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are now deemed cancelled,
Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.
Declaring military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, India has asked them to leave the country within a week while also announcing to withdraw its own defence advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
New Delhi will also be reducing its overall strength of the High Commissions to 30 from the present 55 by May 1.