India’s Diplomatic Actions Against Pakistan

Context

The terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including tourists and a foreign national, has triggered one of the most severe diplomatic escalations between India and Pakistan in recent years. The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF)-a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba-prompted India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to announce a series of unprecedented measures targeting Pakistan, signaling a new phase in bilateral relations marked by heightened confrontation and minimal engagement.

India’s Diplomatic and Strategic Measures

1. Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

• • Historic Context: The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has survived wars and decades of hostility, governing the sharing of six major rivers between India and Pakistan.
  • Current Action: India has suspended the treaty, halting all technical meetings, data sharing, and site visits by Pakistani officials. Hydropower and desilting projects on tributaries will continue despite Pakistani objections.
  • Implications: The suspension is a watershed moment, as the treaty has long been a symbol of cooperation even during conflict. India has stated the suspension will remain until Pakistan takes “credible and irrevocable” action against terror groups operating from its soil.

2. Visa and Consular Restrictions

• • Visa Cancellations: India revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including those under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), with a 48-hour deadline for departure. Medical visas remain valid only until April 29, 2025.
  • Consular Operations: The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah border has been closed, with only a brief window for those with valid endorsements to return.
  • Diplomatic Staff Reduction: Both countries will reduce their High Commission staff from 55 to 30, and all military attaches have been expelled or declared persona non grata.

3. Downgrading Diplomatic Ties

• • Withdrawal of Military Diplomats: India expelled Pakistani defence, navy, and air advisors, and reciprocally withdrew its own from Islamabad.
  • High Alert: Indian security forces have been placed on heightened alert, signaling readiness for further escalation if required.

Pakistan’s Response

1. Reciprocal Diplomatic Actions

• • Visa and Border Closures: Pakistan suspended all visas for Indian nationals (except Sikh pilgrims), closed the Wagah-Attari border, and instructed Indian SVES visa holders to depart within 48 hours.
  • Diplomatic Expulsions: Indian defence, naval, and air advisors in Islamabad were declared persona non grata and ordered to leave by April 30, 2025.
  • Staff Reductions: The Indian High Commission in Islamabad will also be reduced to 30 staff.

2. Suspension of Trade and Airspace

• • Trade Ban: All trade with India, including third-country transit, has been suspended.
  • Airspace Closure: Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian-owned or operated airlines.

3. Threats of Further Escalation

• • Simla Agreement: Pakistan threatened to suspend the 1972 Simla Agreement, which underpins the Line of Control and bilateral dispute resolution.
  • Indus Waters Treaty Warning: Pakistan declared that any attempt by India to reduce water flows would be seen as an “act of war,” with threats of “tit-for-tat” military retaliation if Indian actions harm Pakistani citizens.

Underlying Issues and Stalemate

• India’s Position: India’s actions are rooted in its longstanding demand that Pakistan dismantle terror groups operating from its territory, particularly those targeting India. The government’s measures are designed to apply maximum diplomatic, economic, and logistical pressure on Islamabad, demonstrating that New Delhi will not tolerate cross-border terrorism and will escalate costs for Pakistan until credible action is taken.
• Pakistan’s Position: Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack, condemned terrorism in all forms, and accused India of exploiting the incident to further marginalize Muslims and suppress dissent in Kashmir. Islamabad maintains that Kashmir remains an unresolved dispute and that India’s actions are unilateral, unjust, and devoid of legal merit.
• Significance of the Indus Waters Treaty Suspension: The IWT’s suspension is particularly significant. The treaty has been a rare example of sustained cooperation, even during armed conflict. Its abeyance marks a new low in bilateral ties and raises concerns about water security for millions in Pakistan. India’s move is intended as leverage, but Pakistan has warned that any reduction in water flows would cross a red line, potentially triggering broader conflict.

Risks and International Implications

• Escalation Risks: Both countries are nuclear-armed, and the current tit-for-tat measures heighten the risk of miscalculation and escalation.
• Regional Stability: The breakdown in diplomatic engagement could undermine regional stability and economic connectivity in South Asia.
• International Law: Pakistan’s invocation of international law regarding the IWT and threats to treat water diversion as an “act of war” could draw in external actors, including the World Bank and the United Nations.

Source: The Hindu

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