Pakistan Stresses Right To Suspend All Bilateral Pacts, Stops Trade, Closes Airspace For Indian Flights

Last Updated:April 24, 2025, 23:12 IST

Pakistan said it has suspended the Simla Agreement -- a major peace treaty signed between the two countries in 1972 -- and all bilateral agreements until India changes its conduct

Media personnel outside the Pakistan High Commission, in New Delhi on April 24. (Image: PTI/Ravi Choudhary)

Pakistan on Thursday suspended bilateral agreements and trade activities with India, while closing its airspace to Indian aircraft, in a response to New Delhi’s move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and downgrade diplomatic ties after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The neighbouring country suspended bilateral agreements until India “desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan". It also threatened to keep in abeyance the Simla Agreement, a major peace treaty signed between the two countries in 1972 following the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War.

“Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; transnational killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir," said a statement released after a high-profile security meeting in Islamabad.

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“All trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan, is suspended forthwith," it added.

A Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, issued later in the day indicated that the airspace was being closed to Indian aircraft for a month. It was not immediately clear that the ban will be extended after this period.

These decisions were announced soon after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting of the Security Council (NSC) with key ministers and the three services chiefs to formulate his country’s response to India’s action, in view of cross-border links in the deadly attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER DECISIONS BY THE NSC, WHAT DID IT SAY?

Pakistan’s NSC “rejected" the Indian decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, and called it a lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis.

“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," it said.

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Pakistan said it unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It, however, warned that its armed forces “remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure".

“Any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and to the security of its people will be met with firm reciprocal measures in all domains. India should refrain from its reflexive blame game and cynical, staged, managed exploitation of incidents like Pahalgam to further its narrow political agenda," the statement further said.

India on Wednesday (April 23) suspended the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, which accused the other of putting out a “worn-out narrative of victimhood", fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil borders, carrying out “state oppression" in Kashmir and persecuting Muslims.

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In other decisions, Pakistan closed down the Wagah border post with immediate effect, a day after India closed the Attari border point. It cancelled all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals, with the exception of those given to Sikh pilgrims. It also declared the Indian military advisers at New Delhi’s mission in Islamabad persona non grata, asking them to leave by April 30, replicating the Indian move.

Diplomatic observers warn that the Indian response and Pakistan’s counter-messaging could push bilateral relations to new lows, further widening a rift that has persisted since the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis. The treaty suspension, in particular, risks sparking long-term water disputes, while the downgrading of diplomatic ties could hinder any future de-escalation efforts, Dawn reported.

Islamabad, Pakistan

News world Pakistan Stresses Right To Suspend All Bilateral Pacts, Stops Trade, Closes Airspace For Indian Flights