In a swiftly evolving geopolitical situation, Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership is set to convene a high-level National Security Committee (NSC) meeting today in Islamabad. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is being closely watched as a key moment in the subcontinent’s tense environment following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, including one Nepali citizen, and several others injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), a group believed to be a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, has taken responsibility for the attack.

This major gathering in Islamabad is the first formal response from Pakistan following India’s swift and assertive measures. Among the steps announced by New Delhi were the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, the downgrading of diplomatic relations, the closure of the integrated check post at the Attari border, and the termination of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the meeting, stating, “A session of the National Security Committee will be held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The decisions made in this meeting will constitute an appropriate response to India’s steps.” Asif’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny on Pakistan’s handling of the cross-border terrorism issue, especially as international attention intensifies post-Pahalgam.

India's actions were taken shortly after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned early from a state visit to Saudi Arabia following the attack. During the CCS meeting, the Indian leadership reviewed the intelligence and operational details of the terror strike. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the media following the meeting and condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

The CCS also noted the attack’s cross-border dimension, emphasizing how it disrupted the peaceful atmosphere of Jammu and Kashmir, which had recently concluded a peaceful electoral process and was witnessing a phase of economic and developmental progress. As part of its multi-pronged response, India has now required all Pakistani citizens currently residing in India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme to leave the country within 48 hours.

Pakistan’s move to call a National Security Committee meeting, including all three service chiefs and top cabinet members, signals the seriousness with which Islamabad is now approaching this diplomatic and military flashpoint. This meeting is expected to address not only India’s abrogation of long-standing treaties like the Indus Waters Treaty but also the growing global pressure on Pakistan to curb the activities of groups like the TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which continue to operate from its soil.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has long been hailed as a rare symbol of India-Pakistan cooperation, even amid conflicts. However, its suspension marks a dramatic escalation and a message from India that terrorism and diplomacy cannot coexist.

Observers and analysts are closely monitoring the tone and substance of Pakistan’s expected response. Whether Islamabad opts for diplomatic countermeasures, seeks international mediation, or escalates rhetoric remains to be seen. At the same time, Indian defence and intelligence agencies continue to keep a high-level surveillance on any military developments across the border, especially in light of Pakistan’s earlier announcement of a surface-to-surface missile test off the Karachi coast within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

This chain of events underlines the fragile and volatile nature of India-Pakistan relations, especially when terror strikes and cross-border militancy become intertwined with statecraft and diplomacy.

India’s national security establishment is also preparing for all possible contingencies. Strategic analysts suggest that New Delhi’s recent moves signal a policy shift—from diplomatic caution to proactive retaliation, with a focus on deterrence through international isolation of terror-supporting states.

Meanwhile, global powers, including the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union, have issued statements condemning the Pahalgam attack and have reiterated the need for regional stability. However, none have directly addressed India’s decision to suspend treaties or alter its diplomatic standing with Pakistan.

As the day progresses, the outcome of Pakistan’s National Security Committee meeting will be critical in shaping South Asia’s political and security environment in the coming weeks. With India maintaining its firm stance and Pakistan preparing its counter-narrative, the subcontinent braces for a phase of heightened tension and diplomatic churn.

This article continues to track this evolving situation, keeping a focus on how India’s actions post-Pahalgam are reshaping the India-Pakistan dynamic and how Pakistan’s top leadership responds to what New Delhi has termed as a watershed moment in bilateral ties.

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