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India unilaterally annuls Shimla Accord, seals cross-border points.

Following the chairman of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a meeting of Pakistan's National Security Committee, the Foreign Office labelled India's action as "illegal." A stern warning was issued, suggesting that any endeavor to restrict or redirect waters intended for Pakistan would be...

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In response to a gathering led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the National Security Committee,...
In response to a gathering led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the National Security Committee, Pakistan's Foreign Office asserts India's action as "illegal." A resolute declaration warnings that any endeavor to restrict or deviate water meant for Pakistan is viewed as an act of war.

India unilaterally annuls Shimla Accord, seals cross-border points.

In a dramatic turn of events, India has suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals and cancelled existing visas as of immediately, ratcheting up a diplomatic row that originated from the heinous April 22 terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed that Pakistani medical visas will only be honored until April 29. Furthermore, all Pakistani citizens residing in India are advised to vacate the country before their revised visa expiration dates. Indian nationals are urged to reconsider traveling to Pakistan, and those already there are encouraged to return promptly. Pakistan's charge d'affaires, Saad Ahmed Warraich, was summoned late Wednesday to receive notice of these measures.

Amid this escalation, Union ministers Amit Shah and S. Jaishankar briefed President Droupadi Murmu, while foreign secretary Vikram Misri updated envoys from nations like the United States, China, the EU, and others regarding the situation. The Chinese Ambassador, Xu Feihong's attendance was noteworthy given the recently improving Sino-Indian ties.

Following an emergency National Security Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan has suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement of 1972, and deemed New Delhi's pause on the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty as "illegal." Pakistan has further warned that any attempts to divert Indus-system waters would be considered an act of war.

Pakistan has expressed "concern" over the tourist deaths in Pahalgam but labels India's actions as "unilateral and politically motivated."

The Shimla Agreement obligates both nations to work towards a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict, while the World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty governs river-water sharing. With India's suspension of the treaty, Pakistan is expected to challenge this action at the World Bank.

Other consequences of this escalation include the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian-owned or -operated aircraft, adding 30 minutes and significant fuel costs to west-bound Indian flights. Trade bodies fear a freeze in commercial relations could disrupt supply chains reliant on overland routes through Pakistan.

This tit-for-tat exchange marks a sharp deterioration in relations since the February 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis. At this juncture, the likelihood of back-channel dialogues defusing tensions remains uncertain.

Additional Insights

The current state of India-Pakistan relations has been tense since 2025, experiencing significant escalations. The April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, set off a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7-10, 2025[1][4]. This conflict marked a new level of military engagement, with both sides employing advanced weaponry like cruise missiles and drones[1]. The suspension of visa services and cancellation of existing visas in April 2023 were just one of several measures indicating the deteriorating relationship. However, the 2025 crisis highlights that tensions have continued to escalate[4].

Since the aforementioned crisis, both countries have utilized new military technologies and engaged in reciprocal strikes across the Line of Control in Kashmir[1][2]. International mediation, including U.S. involvement, played a role in ending the conflict, but the underlying issues remain unresolved[3]. The situation underscores the fragility of peace in the region and the evolving complexity of modern conflict, with both nations facing challenges in managing their relations amidst a backdrop of military and diplomatic tensions[4].

  1. The current war-and-conflicts between India and Pakistan have led to a suspension of bilateral agreements, such as the Shimla Agreement of 1972, due to Pakistan's recent actions.
  2. In the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, the Indian government has instructed Pakistani medical visas to be honored only until April 29, while urging all Pakistani citizens residing in India to vacate the country before revised visa expiration dates.
  3. General-news sources report that crime-and-justice concerns, like the April 22 terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, have contributed to the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan, leading to accidents and disruptions in air and ground transportation due to the closure of airspace and concerns about water-sharing treaties.

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