Watan-India and Pakistan exchanged escalatory measures on Thursday, including cutting trade, halting transportation links, and suspending consular services, amid growing fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed nations.
This escalation comes a day after 26 Indians were killed in an armed attack in Kashmir, for which New Delhi blamed Islamabad.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue and punish what he described as the terrorists and their supporters in ways that would be “beyond their imagination.”
Modi called for an all-party meeting — including opposition parties — on Thursday to inform them of the government’s response to the attack.
On Wednesday, Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri stated there was cross-border involvement in the attack. He also announced the suspension of a key treaty governing the sharing of the Indus River’s waters — a pact that had remained in place even during previous wars between the nuclear rivals.
Local Indian media reported Thursday that New Delhi summoned the senior Pakistani diplomat in the capital to notify him that all military advisers in the Pakistani mission were now persona non grata and were given a week to leave — one of several measures announced by Misri.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also announced an immediate suspension of visa services for Pakistanis and advised Indian nationals in Pakistan to leave as soon as possible.
Immediate Pakistani Response
Islamabad quickly responded, announcing it would reduce the staff of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to 30 personnel.
Pakistan also declared India’s defense advisors in Islamabad as persona non grata and ordered them to leave by the end of April.
Additionally, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and warned that any attempt to violate its rights over the lower river basin would be considered an act of war.
Islamabad rejected India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it illegitimate.
Reuters quoted Pakistani Energy Minister Owais Leghari as saying that India’s suspension of the treaty falls under “water warfare,” describing it as cowardly and illegal.
Pakistan also suspended all trade with India, including transit trade with third countries via its territory.
The Pakistani National Security Committee convened under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the participation of ministers, military leaders, and intelligence chiefs, to discuss the rising tensions.
According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent, the meeting was set to express concern over India’s latest actions, reaffirm rejection of the Indus Waters Treaty suspension, and underscore Islamabad’s military capability to defend national resources.
Sources said the meeting included top civilian and military leadership and was expected to address both internal and external security, along with reviewing India’s sudden decisions.
A Multi-Dimensional Crisis
Commenting on the developments, Professor Sriradha Dutta of O.P. Jindal University in India urged Pakistan to avoid escalation and pursue diplomatic channels to defuse the latest tensions.
She told Al Jazeera Net that New Delhi would not take the current situation lightly.
Dutta emphasized that escalating hostility in an already fragile security environment is unsustainable for both countries.
Meanwhile, Qamar Cheema, Executive Director of the Sanober Institute in Pakistan, warned that the current escalation could lead to further tension and increased chances of miscalculation.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Cheema said Pakistan believes a third party exploited the situation and warned that others in the region might use the crisis to exert more pressure on Pakistan or undermine its regional and international standing.
Cheema stated that Pakistan is moving toward reviewing all previously signed agreements with India, including those from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, intending to withdraw from them one by one.
He described the situation as moving toward further escalation, especially in light of Modi’s recent remarks, in which he pledged to identify, track, and punish the attackers — while accusing India of involvement in killing Pakistanis through anonymous agents.
Cheema characterized the current standoff as a joint diplomatic challenge for both nations, warning that they might enter a global race to win allies and international backing.
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