Pakistan has decisively closed its airspace to Indian airlines while rejecting New Delhi’s suspension of a vital water-sharing treaty as an act of retribution, in response to India’s measures following a deadly Islamist militant attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.
These retaliatory announcements have plunged relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors—nations that have gone to war three times—to an all-time low in recent years.
The National Security Committee (NSC) has warned that any move by India to divert the flow of water lawfully belonging to Pakistan will be “considered an act of war”.
The NSC convened on Thursday warned: “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 lower riparian will be considered as an act of war and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.”
The statement also noted that India’s behaviour is reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will.
Pakistan, the statement said, 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, it mentioned, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs.
The NSC warned that Pakistan could also 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; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir.