Blocking water will be considered as 'act of war', Pakistan warns India

Pakistan while outrightly rejecting Indian allegations levelled after Pahalgam incident has warned in unequivocal terms that any attempt to block the country's water by India will be considered as "an act of war", reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The decision was made at the crucial meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) which was held at PM House in Islamabad on Thursday, under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to a statement issued after the NSC meeting, it was decided to immediately suspend all trade with India and shut down airspace to all Indian airlines.

Pakistan has also declared Indian military attaches at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata.

The National Security Committee (NSC) meeting completely rejected all Indian allegations it levelled after the Pahalgam incident, saying any Indian misadventure will be met with full force.

The NSC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in which all the recommendations forwarded by the Foreign Ministry in a matching response to India’s diplomatic and water aggression, sources said and added it was decided in the NSC meeting to move world fora over violation of the Indus Waters Treaty by India. 

The NSC also expressed complete satisfaction at the operational preparedness of the Pakistani armed forces.

Earlier, the crucial meeting of National Security Committee (NSC) began in Islamabad to deliberate upon the diplomatic measures imposed by India including suspension of Indus Waters Treaty after Pahalgam false-flag operation.

The Committee -- composed of senior civil and military officials and summoned only in cases of external threat or major terror attack -- met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

Full text of statement on NSC decisions

Following is the full text of the press released issued by the PM Office after the National Security Committee (NSC) on Thursday following India’s aggressive measures against Pakistan in the wake of Pahalgam attack:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), today. The participants discussed the national security environment and the regional situation, particularly in the wake of Pahalgam attack in the Anantnag District of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April 2025.

Expressing concern over the loss of tourists’ lives, the Committee reviewed the Indian measures announced on 23 April 2025 and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit.

The National Security Committee made the following observations: Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India as recognized through multiple UN resolutions. Pakistan continues to support the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The continued Indian state oppression, abrogation of statehood, political and demographic gerrymandering, has persistently led to an organic backlash from the people of IIOJK, which perpetuates cycles of violence. India’s systemic persecution of minorities, particularly Muslims, has become more pervasive. Attempts at forced passage of Waqf Bill is the latest effort to marginalize Muslims across India.

India must resist the temptation to exploit such tragic incidents to its advantage and take full responsibility for its failure to provide security to the people.

Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As the world’s frontline state against terrorism, Pakistan has suffered immense human and economic losses. Indian attempts to inject volatility in the environment along Pakistan’s eastern borders is aimed at distracting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. 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.

India’s worn-out narrative of victimhood cannot obfuscate its own culpability in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan’s soil, nor can it distract attention from its systematic and state-sponsored oppression and human rights violations in IIOJK.

Contrary to Indian claims, Pakistan has in its custody incontrovertible proof of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, including the confession of a serving Indian Navy officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who remains a living testament to India’s state-sponsored terrorist activities.

The National Security Committee deplored the implicit threat contained in the Indian statement of 23 April 2025. The international community ought to remain mindful of India’s state-sponsored extraterritorial assassinations or attempts on foreign soil. These heinous acts were carried out in blatant violation of international law as recently exposed by Pakistan along with various other states with undeniable evidence. Pakistan will pursue all those responsible, planners and perpetrators alike and ensure that justice is served. 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. Such tactics serve only to inflame tensions and obstruct the path to peace and stability in the region.

Extremely irresponsible warmongering by Indian state-controlled media, fuelling volatility in the regional calculus is reprehensive, which requires serious introspection.

The Committee decided the following:

·         Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The Treaty is a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank and contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a Vital National Interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs. 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.

·         Noting the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will, Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.

·         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.

·         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.

·         Pakistan declares the Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to leave Pakistan immediately but not later than 30 April 2025. These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. Support staff of these Advisors are also directed to return to India.

·         The strength of Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025.

·         Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines.

·         All trade with India including to and from any third country through Pakistan is suspended forthwith.

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.

In conclusion, India’s belligerent measures have vindicated the Two- Nation Theory as well as the apprehensions of Quaid- E- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as encapsulated in the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, which continues to echo the sentiments of the complete Pakistani Nation.

The Pakistani Nation remains committed to peace, but will never allow anyone to transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and their inalienable rights.

Reporter Awais Kiyani