Pakistan Suspends Bilateral Agreements, Airspace Access Amid Escalating Tensions with India

 Islamabad | April 24, 2025 — In a sharp escalation of diplomatic hostilities, Pakistan on Thursday announced the suspension of all bilateral agreements with India, including the historic Simla Agreement, following New Delhi's decision to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrade diplomatic ties in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.

The announcement was made after an emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key cabinet members and the heads of the country’s armed forces. The session was convened to deliberate on Islamabad’s response to India’s actions, which came after 26 people — including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen — were killed in a cross-border terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that all diplomatic, trade, and transport ties with India have been suspended with immediate effect. This includes the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian-owned and operated aircraft and the termination of all trade routes, including those via third countries.

A particularly consequential element of the announcement was the suspension of the Simla Agreement — the foundational framework that has governed Indo-Pak relations since it was signed in 1972 following the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. Officials declared that all bilateral accords would remain suspended “until India changes its conduct.”

In a strongly worded statement, the Pakistani government rejected India's move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty — a 1960 water-sharing pact brokered by the World Bank — calling the treaty a "lifeline" for nearly 240 million citizens. Islamabad warned that any attempt by India to divert river flows would be interpreted as an "act of war," and vowed to respond with “firm reciprocal measures in all domains” to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and security.

"Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism," the NSC statement said, while asserting that India’s reaction lacked credible evidence and was rooted in political posturing rather than substantive diplomatic engagement.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in an interview with a local television channel, sharply criticized India’s handling of the situation, calling it “immature” and “hasty.”

“India has not provided any evidence to justify such extreme measures. This is a non-serious and provocative response driven more by optics than strategy,” Dar said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a separate communiqué expressing regret over the loss of civilian lives in the Pahalgam attack but emphasized the need for a fact-based and measured approach to conflict resolution.

Observers Warn of Prolonged Diplomatic Freeze

Diplomatic analysts have voiced concern that the present cycle of actions and retaliations could plunge Indo-Pak relations into a prolonged freeze, reminiscent of the post-Balakot era in 2019. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, in particular, is seen as a watershed moment that could potentially trigger long-standing hydropolitical disputes, with significant ramifications for regional stability and future negotiations.

“The danger now is that both sides are locking themselves into hardened positions with little room left for de-escalation,” a senior South Asian policy expert told Dawn, warning of the diplomatic fallout that may ensue in global fora.

As both nations dig in for what appears to be an extended period of diplomatic confrontation, the international community is likely to call for restraint. However, with rhetoric intensifying on both sides, a path to dialogue appears increasingly remote.