India diverting water will be taken as war declaration, warns Pakistan
Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai
April 24, 2025
ISLAMABAD: In a strong rebuttal to India's contentious actions, the National Security Committee (NSC) has declared that any attempt by New Delhi to divert water legally allocated to Pakistan will be treated as an act of war.
The move comes in response to India's unilateral decision to suspend the six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty and also taking other steps against Pakistan in the aftermath of an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The attack on Tuesday claimed the lives of 26 people — including one Nepali national — and India's government blames Pakistan for the attack, a claim that Islamabad vehemently denied and also termed as a "false flag operation".
The NSC convened on Thursday warned: "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."
The statement also noted that India's behaviour is reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will.
Key points from NSC meeting
- Pakistan rejects India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
- Water diversion will be treated as an act of war
- Wagah Border closed to all Indian land transit
- SAARC visa exemptions for Indians cancelled immediately
- Indian nationals must exit Pakistan within 48 hours
- Indian defence advisers declared persona non grata
- Indian High Commission staff limited to 30 persons
- Pakistan closes airspace to Indian airlines immediately
- All trade with India suspended without exception
- NSC says Indian aggression validates Two-Nation Theory
Pakistan, the statement said, 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, it mentioned, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs.
The NSC warned that Pakistan could also 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 also 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 April 30, 2025, the statement mentioned.
Pakistan has, moreover, suspended all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deemed 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, the statement mentioned.
Pakistan also declares the Indian defence, naval and air advisors in Islamabad persona non grata. They are directed to leave Pakistan immediately but not later than April 30, 2025, the NSC declared.
"These posts in the Indian High Commission are deemed annulled. [The] support staff of these advisors are also directed to return to India," the NSC statement said.
The strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will also be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from April 30.
"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 NSC, moreover, 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-i-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 inalienable rights," the statement added.
Islamabad's response comes after India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) laid out five measures which New Delhi has termed as "decisive response to cross-border terrorism".
The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between Pakistan and India, facilitated by the World Bank. It gives India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) of the Indus basin while it gives Pakistan authority over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab).
The other measures include the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari as well as the issuance of a deadline for Pakistanis to leave the country before May 1, 2025.
Kashmiri traders hold a candlelight vigil to condemn the attack on tourists near IIOJK's scenic Pahalgam, in Srinagar on April 23, 2025. — Reuters
Declaring military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, India has asked them to leave the country within a week while also announcing to withdraw its own defence advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
New Delhi will also be reducing its overall strength of the High Commissions to 30 from the present 55 by May 1.