Islamabad Unveils Retaliatory Measures After Pahalgam Terror Attack Prompts Indian Crackdown
Pakistan has announced a series of sharp retaliatory steps following India’s punitive actions in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. Labeling India’s response as “reckless and irresponsible,” Islamabad said on April 24 that it would suspend bilateral agreements, shut airspace to Indian aircraft, and cut off diplomatic and trade channels.
India’s Firm Stance Following the Pahalgam Attack
In its initial reaction, India launched a broad diplomatic and strategic offensive. On April 23, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declared that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—a cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations since 1960—would be suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irreversibly ends its support for cross-border terrorism.”
Additional steps announced by India included:
· Closure of the Attari-Wagah border post,
· Expulsion of Pakistani military advisers from New Delhi,
· Revocation of SAARC visa privileges for Pakistani citizens, excluding Sikh pilgrims.
These steps signaled a shift from symbolic condemnations to concrete, strategic isolation.
Pakistan’s Response: Diplomatic Freeze and National Security Posturing
In retaliation, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) issued its own sweeping countermeasures. These include:
· Closure of airspace to all Indian-operated aircraft,
· Immediate suspension of the Simla Agreement, effectively freezing bilateral diplomacy,
· Termination of trade with India, including indirect third-country routes,
· Expulsion of Indian military attachés and reduction of Indian High Commission staff to 30,
· Suspension of SAARC visas for Indian nationals (with the exception of Sikh religious pilgrims),
· Closure of the Wagah Border, mirroring India’s move.
Islamabad also warned that any diversion of Indus waters would be treated as an “Act of War”, with Energy Minister Awais Leghari declaring on social media that “Every drop is ours by right.”
Economic and Strategic Implications for India
While the measures taken by Pakistan are largely reciprocal, the closure of airspace and trade routes could pose logistical and financial challenges for Indian carriers and exporters. In previous instances, such as during 2019 airspace tensions, Indian airlines incurred losses exceeding ₹500 crore due to rerouted flights.
Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, although symbolic in the short term due to India’s limited current capacity to divert large volumes, represents a significant escalation. Any actual reduction in flow could deeply impact Pakistan’s agriculture-based economy, potentially sparking international concerns over water security in the region.
Furthermore, the breakdown of the Simla Agreement, which has governed peace and diplomacy since 1972, dismantles the last institutional structure for bilateral conflict resolution.
A Dangerous Diplomatic Crossroads
India and Pakistan now stand at one of the most fragile junctures in recent history, with both countries trading tit-for-tat measures that risk long-term diplomatic and regional fallout.
While India’s actions were rooted in a national security imperative following the Pahalgam massacre, Pakistan’s sweeping retaliation has raised tensions exponentially, affecting not just bilateral relations but regional stability in South Asia.
With backchannels now frozen and formal treaties suspended, the absence of dialogue presents a serious risk. The international community, particularly signatories to the IWT and members of SAARC, may soon be compelled to step in—not just to defuse hostilities, but to rebuild a fractured peace framework before irreversible damage is done.
(With inputs from agencies)
