Pakistan Closes Airspace to Indian Airlines, Suspends All Trade Amid Rising Tensions

Pakistan Closes Airspace to Indian Airlines: Pakistan is closing its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspending all trade with India including through third countries. It has downgraded diplomatic relations in relation to a number of punitive measures announced by New Delhi on account of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead on Tuesday.

The majority of measures taken by Pakistan after the meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad were simply reciprocal measures taken by India on Wednesday. Pakistan rejected India's suspension decision for the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and said stopping or even diverting flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the agreement would constitute war and responded to "full force".

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India's punitive measures were decided by the Cabinet Committee on Security a day after terrorists gunned down tourists at the picturesque meadow in what marks the worst such attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly two decades. It included the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closing of the only operational land border crossing and expulsion of Pakistani military attaches.

The Pakistan Prime Minister's Office statement indicates that "airspace shall be closed with immediate effect for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines," and prohibits all trade with India, from and to any third country through Pakistan, effective immediately.

Rejecting India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty on the grounds that it does not provide terms for unilateral suspension, the statement defines water as a "vital national interest." and said, “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 and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power.”

Pakistan also stated, "We shall exercise the right to hold in abeyance all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to Simla Agreement until India ceases fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir".

In retaliation to India's deportation of three Pakistani military attaches, Pakistan declared the Indian defence, naval and air advisors in Islamabad persona non grata and directed them to leave Pakistan no later than April 30. These posts were annulled, and the support staff of the advisors were also expelled.

The Pakistani side declared, "India would have its high commission in Islamabad down to 30 from 30 April, then all cross border transit through India via the Wagah border post will be suspended. All Indians crossed through this post should also return by 30 April."

The Pakistani side has also suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme visas issued to all Indians with the exception of Sikh pilgrimage. All Indians in Pakistan with such visas were directed to leave within 48 hours.

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“The National Security Committee underscored that Pakistan and its Armed Forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure, as clearly demonstrated by its measured yet resolute response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019,” the statement said, referring to tit-for-tat air strikes carried out by both sides following the Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in 2019.

It called India's punitive measures unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit, contending that Kashmir "remains an unresolved dispute". The statement also raked up India's revocation of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, persecution of the minorities as well as passing of the Waqf (Amendment) Act while condemning all kinds of terrorism.

“In the absence of any credible investigation and verifiable evidence, attempts to link the Pahalgam attack with Pakistan are frivolous, devoid of rationality and defeat logic,” the statement said.

Pakistan also claimed to have "proof of Indian-sponsored terrorism" while the National Security Committee "condemned the implicit threat" carried within India's statement regarding punitive measures on Wednesday.

Also Read: Centre Orders Pakistani Nationals to Leave India, Suspends Visa Services After Pahalgam Attack