In a sharp escalation of tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Suspends Simla Pact, a historic bilateral agreement that has defined the Line of Control (LoC) since 1972. This move comes as a direct response to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, marking a new low in diplomatic relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The announcement was made after a high-level National Security Committee (NSC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. Pakistan’s retaliatory actions include halting all trade with India, closing its airspace to Indian-operated airlines, expelling Indian defense advisors, and shutting down the Wagah border, significantly impacting bilateral engagement and regional stability.
Pakistan Escalates Diplomatic and Economic Retaliation
Hours after India suspended all visas and revoked the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan responded with a wide-ranging retaliation, accusing India of attempting to “foment terrorism” on Pakistani soil. In an official statement, Pakistan said:
“Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour.”
This marks a significant departure from diplomatic protocol and sends a strong signal that Islamabad is prepared to rewrite long-standing agreements in response to New Delhi’s counterterrorism moves.
Signed in 1972, the Simla Agreement is a cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations. It:
Recognizes the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Commits both nations to resolve disputes bilaterally through peaceful means.
Forms the diplomatic foundation for avoiding further armed conflict post the 1971 war.
Suspending the pact could:
Undermine the status of the LoC, risking increased military tension.
Pave the way for internationalizing the Kashmir issue — something India firmly opposes.
Signal that Pakistan no longer considers bilateral diplomacy viable.
Indus Waters Treaty Fallout
India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty — signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation — has deeply alarmed Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers for its water needs.
In a fiery rebuttal, Pakistan stated:
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan… will be considered an act of war and responded with full force across the spectrum of national power.”
This signals that water security may now become a frontline issue in the India-Pakistan conflict narrative.
Pakistan’s Broader Countermeasures
Following India’s crackdown post-Pahalgam, Pakistan’s countermeasures include:
Closure of Wagah Border Post: Effective immediately. All cross-border movement via land route is suspended. Existing travelers must return before April 30, 2025.
Airspace Ban: All Indian-owned or Indian-operated aircraft are banned from entering Pakistani airspace.
Visa Cancellation: All SAARC visas issued to Indian nationals stand cancelled, except for Sikh pilgrims, who are given 48 hours to exit.
Trade Suspension: All trade to/from India, including via third countries, is halted indefinitely.
Diplomatic Downgrades:
Indian Air Force and Naval attachés declared persona non grata.
India had expelled their Pakistani counterparts a day earlier.
The Pakistan Simla Agreement suspension, paired with the closure of trade, airspace, and diplomatic routes, marks a serious escalation in India-Pakistan relations. What began as a response to terrorism has rapidly turned into a strategic and diplomatic standoff with regional stability at stake.
As both countries dig in, the international community watches closely—concerned about the fallout from two nuclear-armed neighbors abandoning dialogue and dismantling decades-old agreements.
