A day after India announced the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty on Wednesday in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, 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.”
“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.
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