Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam, with both nations announcing a series of retaliatory measures and suspensions of bilateral agreements and services.
On Wednesday, the Government of India undertook several diplomatic actions against Pakistan. These included putting the Indus Waters Treaty on hold, downgrading diplomatic relations, expelling diplomats and top defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, cancelling all visas granted to Pakistani nationals and ordering them to leave the country within 48 hours.&nbsp;
In addition, India closed the Attari-Wagah border.
On Thursday, Pakistan responded following a meeting of its National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Pakistan announced that it &ldquo;shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The statement also said that Pakistan &ldquo;vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance&rdquo; and warned that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the treaty, and any &ldquo;usurpation of the rights of lower riparian&rdquo;, would be considered &ldquo;an Act of War.&rdquo;
Further measures announced by Islamabad include the immediate closure of Pakistan&rsquo;s airspace to all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, the suspension of all trade with India, including trade to and from any third country through Pakistan, and the shutdown of the Wagah border post.&nbsp;
Pakistan also declared that the strength of the Indian High Commission would be reduced to 30 and that Defence Services officials from the Indian mission would be expelled.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India issued a statement confirming the suspension of visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.&nbsp;
It stated, &ldquo;All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27, 2025. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29, 2025.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The statement also instructed all Pakistani nationals currently in India to leave the country before the expiry of their visas, as now amended. Additionally, Indian nationals have been strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan, and those currently in the country have been urged to return to India at the earliest.
Indian Government Briefs Prez &amp; Foreign Envoys
President Droupadi Murmu has been briefed by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent diplomatic measures taken by India.
The Ministry of External Affairs also briefed selected envoys of G20 countries on the Pahalgam terror attack. The briefing, which lasted for 30 minutes, was attended by ambassadors from Germany, Japan, Poland, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Canada, among others.&nbsp;
The ambassadors were seen leaving the office of the Ministry of External Affairs located in the South Block.&nbsp;
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(Left) PM Modi and Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif (Right)

India and Pakistan suspend key agreements, expel diplomats, and shut borders following Pahalgam terror attack

India Revokes Visas, Pakistan Closes Airspace

India and Pakistan suspend key agreements, expel diplomats, and shut borders following Pahalgam terror attack

April 24, 2025 | 17:55 IST