Indian defence officials declared persona non grata; airspace and Wagah border closed
ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting tensions following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan on Thursday summoned Indian Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava to the Foreign Office, where she was formally handed a diplomatic demarche.
During the meeting, Srivastava was officially informed of a series of decisions taken by Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) in response to what Islamabad has described as “Indian aggression.” The NSC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and addressed both the evolving regional security climate and recent diplomatic strains.
Key Diplomatic Actions
Pakistan has declared the Defence, Naval, and Air Attachés of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata. These officials, along with associated personnel, have been instructed to leave the country immediately. Additionally, the size of the Indian diplomatic mission in Pakistan has been capped at 30 personnel.
Srivastava was also informed of several retaliatory measures, including:
- The closure of Pakistani airspace to all Indian commercial flights.
- The shutting down of the Wagah border crossing.
- A 48-hour deadline for all Indian nationals in Pakistan to exit the country, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, who will be allowed to complete their religious visits.
NSC’s Position on Water and Bilateral Ties
The NSC reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance on the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank. The committee condemned any unilateral move by India to suspend or violate the treaty.
“Water is a vital national interest for Pakistan — a lifeline for our 240 million citizens,” the NSC said in its statement. “Any attempt to block or divert Pakistan’s rightful share will be treated as an act of war, and responded to with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.”
The committee also criticized what it described as India’s repeated disregard for international conventions, including UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
In a strong signal, the NSC announced Pakistan’s decision to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Accord, until India halts what Pakistan calls its “provocative and unlawful actions,” including cross-border terrorism and human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
