ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an urgent high-level meeting of the federal cabinet, scheduled for 4 PM on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s House, in response to escalating tensions with India and emerging internal and border security challenges.
Sources indicate that federal ministers will be briefed on the current state of Pakistan-India relations, particularly in light of recent provocative actions by New Delhi. The cabinet is also expected to review preparations for the upcoming federal budget.
The meeting follows a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties after India accused Pakistan of involvement in the April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam—allegations Islamabad has strongly denied. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, and ordered Pakistani diplomatic staff to leave the country by April 30, 2025.
In a strong countermeasure, Pakistan’s National Security Committee restricted Indian diplomatic personnel in Islamabad to 30 and declared that any disruption of Pakistan’s water supply would be treated as an act of war, emphasizing that water is a matter of national survival.
India has also announced a series of unilateral military decisions, further aggravating the situation. In response, Pakistan successfully petitioned for a United Nations Security Council session, during which its permanent representative condemned India’s actions as provocative and destabilizing, warning of potentially grave consequences.
The international community, including the UN and key global actors such as China, Switzerland, and Iran, has urged both nations to show restraint. Switzerland and Iran have also offered to mediate to prevent further escalation.
