Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement

Pakistan has announced the suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement in a series of retaliatory measures against India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

According to a report by Pakistani media outlet Dawn, the move includes the closure of the Wagah border for trade, suspension of Saarc visa exemptions for Indian citizens, and the expulsion of Indian military diplomats, who have been declared persona non grata.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) — its highest decision-making body on national security — met for more than two hours to craft its response.

The committee, while expressing condolences for the loss of lives in Pahalgam, categorically rejected India's countermeasures, calling them “unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit".

The Simla Agreement is a peace treaty between India and Pakistan that was signed after the 1971 war.

One key result of the agreement was the creation of the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir, which divided the region between India and Pakistan. The agreement also outlined the return of prisoners of war, the withdrawal of troops, and a promise to resolve future disputes through direct talks between the two nations, reports Business Standard.

The provisions, aside from the Simla agreement, mirror the measures announced by India on Wednesday in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan has denied any involvement and condemned the killing of tourists.

The NSC also issued a warning over India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a longstanding bilateral water-sharing agreement. Pakistan declared any attempt to stop or divert its share of the waters as an “act of war” and said it “vehemently rejects” India’s announcement to hold the treaty in abeyance.