Pakistan warns India of withdrawing from Simla Accord

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that if India unilaterally scrapped the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan reserves the right to terminate the Simla Accord and other bilateral agreements.

Dar made these remarks during a joint press conference with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and others.

During the briefing, Dar also read the decisions taken at a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting.

He said the NSC met earlier in the day with participation from both civil and military leadership, where several decisions were taken in response to India’s hostile actions.

“India cannot unilaterally terminate the Indus Waters Treaty. If it does, we will consider ending the Simla Accord and other agreements as well,” Dar said adding that “We have responded to India’s actions with stronger measures. For instance, we have shut down our airspace to Indian airlines.”

He accused India of consistently playing the blame game and challenged it to produce evidence if it had any. “We have immediately closed the Wagah border and reduced the staff of the Indian High Commission from 55 to 30, with effect from April 30. Additionally, Indian defence, naval and air advisers posted in Islamabad have been declared persona non grata and asked to leave the country,” he added.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif noted that although India has not officially named Pakistan in relation to the Pahalgam attack, its media continues to make such claims.

“No country has ever barred a head of government from entry by labelling them a terrorist. Modi, however, is a certified terrorist who oversaw the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat while serving as Chief Minister,” he said.

Asif also questioned the security lapse in Pahalgam despite the heavy presence of Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.

Dar, meanwhile, quoted from the memoir of former U.S. President Bill Clinton in which he mentioned Indian involvement in terrorism.

A representative from the Indus Waters Treaty body clarified that the agreement had withstood two wars and could not be suspended unilaterally. “To terminate it, both countries must come together and revise the treaty. So far, India’s statement is just rhetoric. If matters escalate, Pakistan will raise the issue on the appropriate international forums,” he said.

Information Minister Atta Tarar dismissed India’s remarks as childish and legally meaningless. “These are nothing more than empty threats, and Pakistan has given a fitting response. From today, Indian airlines are banned from using Pakistani airspace, which will lead to economic losses for India,” he said.

“You talk; we act. Everyone knows India exports terrorism to play the victim. Kulbhushan Jadhav is clear proof of this. We’ve settled the score — with interest,” Tarar concluded.