In a high-stakes escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, Pakistan on Thursday announced the immediate closure of the Wagah border crossing with India and suspended the decades-old Simla Agreement. The move comes in response to a series of aggressive actions taken by India after a deadly attack in the Pahalgam region of Indian-occupied Kashmir that left 26 dead.

The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the country’s top civilian and military leadership, convened to address the situation. The meeting was centered on India’s reaction to the attack—widely reported by Indian media to have been carried out by alleged Pakistani nationals from a banned group, a claim Pakistan strongly denies, calling it a “false flag operation.”

In a detailed statement, the Prime Minister’s Office criticized India’s steps as “unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, and devoid of legal merit.” The government expressed concern over the loss of innocent lives but condemned India’s sweeping response, including its decision to suspend visa services for Pakistanis and expel them from the country by April 29.

Among the major retaliatory steps announced by Islamabad:

• Wagah Border Closure: All cross-border transit through the Wagah route is suspended effective immediately. A grace period until April 30 has been granted to travelers with valid endorsements to return.
• Simla Agreement Suspension: Pakistan is placing all bilateral agreements with India, including the 1972 Simla Agreement, on hold until New Delhi alters what Pakistan described as a pattern of violating international norms and fomenting instability.
• Indus Waters Treaty Rejection: Pakistan firmly rejected India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a historic water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960—calling any attempt to restrict Pakistan’s water flow an “Act of War.”

The NSC stated that India’s actions violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and warned that any future provocations would be met with “full-spectrum” national retaliation.

India’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, announced that all Pakistani citizens, excluding diplomats, must leave the country by the end of the month. The move follows the downgrading of diplomatic ties, border shutdowns, and the suspension of key bilateral agreements.

The recent attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist area in Kashmir, was the deadliest civilian assault in the region in over two decades. While India has blamed Pakistan-based militants, Islamabad maintains it had no involvement and offered condolences to the victims.

As both nations dig in diplomatically and militarily, the region faces its most dangerous standoff in years. With historic treaties under threat and both governments engaging in retaliatory measures, international observers are urging restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.