Indus move an ‘act of war’, Pak issues Simla pact threat-OxBig News Network

Pakistan today threatened to hold in abeyance the Simla Agreement, a peace treaty signed with India in 1972, and said any attempt to divert or block its rightful share of river waters will be deemed as an “act of war” and responded to with “full force”.

Amid a possible Indian military action to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad vowed to take “firm reciprocal” measures to protect its sovereignty as it batted for the rights of the people of Kashmir to “self-determination”.

The decisions were announced after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the national security committee to craft a response to New Delhi’s announcements made yesterday in retaliation to the terror attack.

A statement after the meeting said: “Pakistan shall 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; transnational killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.”

Sources said this would be carried out, if and when India stops the flow of river waters.

A significant outcome of the Simla agreement was the establishment of the 749-km Line of Control (LoC), effectively dividing J&K between the two nations. The agreement states: “Neither side shall seek to alter the LoC unilaterally or the use of force in violation of this line”.

In 1999, Pakistan carried out a major violation of the LoC leading to the Kargil conflict. The Pakistan response comes a day after the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on hold. “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the IWT will be considered as an act of war and responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of national power,” Pakistan said in the statement.

The water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, facilitated by the World Bank, gives Delhi control over the three eastern rivers — the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — and allows Pakistan a major share of the three western ones — the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. With India having very little capacity to store waters of these rivers, Pakistan may not immediately be impacted.

Additionally, Pakistan has closed its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated flights with immediate effect — flights to US and Europe will now have to make a detour.

Islamabad also decided to suspend all forms of trade with India, including those routed through third countries. It further announced immediate closure of the Attari border crossing on its side without exception. Those who had crossed with valid endorsements would have to return through the route by April 30, Pakistan said. The Pakistan PM-led committee “expressed concern” over the loss of tourists’ lives in the terror attack and said it was an “organic backlash” from the people of J&K.

Pakistan suspended all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and deemed these cancelled with immediate effect, but exempted Sikh pilgrims. They have been asked to exit within 48 hours. Pakistan also declared the Indian defence, naval and air advisers in Islamabad as persona non grata and directed them leave the country by April 30. —TNS