Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement that established LOC, pauses trade with India

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif - File Photo

Cornered by India's diplomatic offensive on Wednesday in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Thursday announced that it will suspend the Simla Agreement which established the Line of Control (LoC), pause all bilateral trade and shut down its side of the Wagah-Attari Border.

Among other tit-for-tat measures, it also closed its airspace for Indian flights and suspended visas of Indian nationals.

Islamabad said any threat to its sovereignty by India would be met with "firm reciprocal measures", after New Delhi exposed the role of The Resistance Front - a proxy outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba, headquartered in Pakistan.

Pakistan said it would consider any attempt by India to stop the supply of water from the Indus River an "act of war". Terming the 1960 agreement a lifeline for its 240 million citizens, Islamabad claimed the treaty cannot be held in abeyance unilaterally and warned of retaliation “across the complete spectrum of national power”.

"Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty... will be considered as an act of war and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power," a statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said after a rare national security committee meeting.

"Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to leave Pakistan immediately," the statement read further, adding that visas issued to Indian nationals would be cancelled with the exception of Sikh pilgrims.

The statement added that borders would shut, trade would be cancelled and airspace closed to Indian-owned or operated airlines.

Islamabad has also threatened that it "shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance."

"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," the statement read.

"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," it added.

This comes a day after India announced a raft of measures, including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday said Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) and any Pakistani national currently in India under it SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.

Misri said the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam attack were "brought out" in a briefing to the CCS following which it decided to take the measures against Pakistan.

With The Resistance Front - a proxy outfit of Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba taking responsibility for the April 22 attack, Islamabad's role in the dastardly act stands exposed. India's response has left Islamabad baffled, with many of its leaders warning New Delhi against any potential military response.