Pakistan moves against India over Pahalgam response

Pakistan has issued retaliatory diplomatic measures against India, including the closing of airspace and land border, and says any attempt to divert the waters of the Indus River will be an “act of war”.

Pakistan took the decisions on Thursday as tit-for-tat retaliatory actions ramp up between the two powers after an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people.

The victims were mostly Indian tourists who had been visiting Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in the Indian-held part of the territory, which both nuclear-armed nations claim as their own.

In response to the attack, India closed a border crossing, suspended a water-sharing treaty and downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan - which it blames for the assault.

The Indian government did not publicly produce any evidence connecting the attack to its neighbour, but said it had "cross-border" links to Pakistan.

Pakistan has denied the accusations and a previously unknown militant group calling itself Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility.

On Thursday, India's foreign ministry said all visas issued to Pakistani nationals would be revoked, effective from Sunday.
It also advised Indian citizens not to travel to Pakistan and announced other measures including cutting the number of diplomatic staff and closing the only functional land border crossing between the nations.

In return, Pakistan said it was closing its airspace to all Indian-owned and operated airlines and suspending all trade with India - including to and from any third country.

As a result of the airspace closure, Air India announced that flights to the UK, as well as to North America, Europe and the Middle East, would be forced to take an alternative longer route.

Similarly, Pakistan also announced the cancellation of all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme - which allows some people to have a "Special Travel" document exempting them from visas.

Source: Agencies