In a dramatic escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan has responded to the Pahalgam terror attack by taking a series of retaliatory actions, significantly impacting diplomatic relations and trade. On April 24, 2025, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a crucial meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss the situation and make critical decisions in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack that struck Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which claimed several innocent lives, has sparked outrage in India and led to severe diplomatic fallout between the two nations.

As a direct response to India’s hard stance following the attack, Pakistan made several significant moves to punish and isolate India diplomatically. In an official press release from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Pakistan confirmed that all Indian airlines would be banned from using Pakistani airspace. This decision effectively blocks any direct air travel between the two countries, a move that will likely have severe economic consequences for both sides. Additionally, Pakistan has closed the Wagah border, one of the most important land crossing points between India and Pakistan, further escalating tensions.

The Wagah border, traditionally a vital route for cross-border trade and movement of people, will remain closed indefinitely. Pakistan's PMO statement specifies that any Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under valid endorsements must return to India by April 30, 2025. Visa suspensions have been enacted as well, particularly concerning those under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). All such visas have been cancelled, with immediate effect, marking a significant downturn in cross-border interactions.

Perhaps the most drastic of Pakistan's actions was the reduction of the Indian High Commission's staff in Islamabad. Effective April 30, 2025, the Indian High Commission will be required to reduce its diplomatic presence to just 30 diplomats and staff members, significantly limiting the scope of India’s diplomatic activities within Pakistan. This decision has the potential to further strain relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have already been embroiled in a long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir.

Pakistan’s response comes after India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) took retaliatory actions aimed at Pakistan on April 23, 2025. The Indian government decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960, which governs the shared water resources of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. This decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences, as water from the Indus is a critical resource for both countries, particularly for Pakistan's agricultural sector.

Additionally, India expelled all defence, naval, and air advisors from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, further downgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries. These actions underscore the growing tension in the India-Pakistan relationship and the ongoing standoff following the Pahalgam attack.

In his response to the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking from Madhubani, Bihar, on April 24, Modi vowed to punish those responsible for the deadly attack and anyone involved in the conspiracy, declaring that the perpetrators had attacked not just innocent tourists, but the very soul of India. His comments underscored the deep national grief and anger felt in India over the attack and marked a significant turning point in India’s approach toward terrorism originating from across the border.

This exchange of hostilities and retaliatory measures signifies a critical juncture in India-Pakistan relations, with both countries taking hardline stances. As diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions seem to have stalled, the military and political leadership of both nations will likely continue to escalate their positions in the coming days. With Wagah border closed, airspace blocked, and trade suspended, the relationship between India and Pakistan stands at a dangerous crossroads, and the world watches closely as these two nations navigate one of the most volatile periods in their shared history.

Pakistan’s NSC meeting decisions indicate that Islamabad may be preparing for further escalation in its diplomatic and military engagements with India. As tensions continue to rise, international bodies and stakeholders may intervene in hopes of de-escalating the crisis before it reaches a critical threshold.

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