Islamabad Says 'Act Of War' If India Diverts 'Water Belonging To Pakistan', Closes Its Airspace

Following a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Islamabad announced: "Diverting Pakistan's water will be treated as an act of war."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs National Security Committee meeting in Islamabad, April 24, 2025.

Source : X [Twitter] | @PakPMO

A day after India announced the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 dead, Pakistan has issued a retaliatory warning. In an emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, the country declared that any move by India to halt or divert water under the treaty would be treated as an “Act of War.”

A statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office said, “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.”

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"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 the lower riparian, will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power," the statement said.

Pakistan also announced the immediate closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft. “Pakistan’s airspace will be closed with immediate effect for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines,” the release added.

India on Thursday announced suspending visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect in line with its retaliatory measures against Islamabad in the wake of the brazen Pahalgam terror attack.

India Suspends Visa Services For Pakistan Nationals

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said, all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27. It said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. The MEA said all Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of their visas. It also advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan and advised those currently in the neighbouring country to return home at the earliest.