Bureau, April 24, 2025 – Pakistan has rejected India’s unilateral suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), labeling it a “gross violation of international law” and announcing a series of retaliatory measures that threaten to further strain relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. In a dramatic escalation, Pakistan has suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the historic Simla Agreement of 1972, and warned that any diversion of water from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—will be treated as an “act of war.”
The IWT suspension by India, announced on April 23, followed the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists and was attributed to Pakistan-based militants. The treaty allocates 80% of the Indus River system’s water to Pakistan, a resource critical for its agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water needs, supporting over 237 million people. India’s move to suspend the treaty has been seen as a direct response to the attack, with New Delhi accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on April 24, declaring the suspension “unacceptable” and accusing India of using the attack as a pretext to “choke Pakistan’s lifeline.”
In a sweeping response, Pakistan has suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement, which established the framework for post-war relations after the 1971 conflict and affirmed the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. The decision to freeze these agreements signals a near-total breakdown in diplomatic ties. Pakistan has also halted all trade with India, including indirect trade through third countries such as the UAE, which had previously facilitated limited commerce despite strained relations. The Wagah border, a symbolic crossing point between the two nations, has been sealed for all Indian transit, effectively cutting off a key overland route.
Further escalating tensions, Pakistan has declared Indian military attachés and diplomats persona non grata, ordering them to leave the country within 48 hours. The number of Indian diplomatic staff permitted in Islamabad has been capped at 30, a significant reduction from the current contingent. Pakistani airspace has been closed to Indian aircraft, impacting both commercial and military overflights, a move that echoes similar restrictions imposed during the 2019 Balakot crisis. These measures come on the heels of India’s earlier decision to expel Pakistani military advisors from New Delhi and close the Attari-Wagah border to Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan’s most severe warning centers on the potential diversion of water from the western rivers, which it relies on for 80% of its irrigation needs. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar stated, “Any attempt by India to divert or obstruct the flow of the Indus, Jhelum, or Chenab rivers will be considered an act of war. Pakistan reserves the right to respond with all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and survival.” The statement reflects the existential threat posed by the treaty suspension, as Pakistan faces a worsening water crisis with depleting groundwater reserves and a heavy dependence on the Indus system, which contributes 25% of its GDP.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the Indian government has issued a strong advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid traveling to Pakistan. The advisory, released by the Ministry of External Affairs on April 24, cited “the prevailing security situation and recent developments” as reasons for the caution. Indian citizens currently in Pakistan have been asked to remain vigilant and contact the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for assistance.
The international community has reacted with alarm to the rapid escalation. The United Nations and the World Bank, which brokered the IWT in 1960, have called for dialogue to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, where millions depend on the Indus waters for their livelihoods. The United States and Russia have urged restraint, while China, a key ally of Pakistan, has expressed “deep concern” over India’s actions and offered to mediate. Posts on X reflect growing global anxiety, with some users warning of a potential “water war” between the two nations, while others criticize Pakistan’s rejection of bilateral agreements as a dangerous overreach.
As both countries dig in, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan’s retaliatory measures have pushed India-Pakistan relations to a breaking point. With military tensions already high—Pakistan has increased troop deployments along the LoC and placed its air force on alert—the region now faces the specter of a broader conflict, one that could have devastating consequences for millions on both sides of the border.
