A key point of discussion at the NSC meeting was India’s recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement brokered by the World Bank that regulates the sharing of water resources between the two nations. The treaty, considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations, has long been a source of contention, with India accused of using water as a weapon of coercion. Pakistan’s firm rejection of India’s move to suspend the treaty highlights the seriousness with which it views any attempts to manipulate its access to water. Water, as Pakistan’s leadership stressed, is a matter of national survival, with the country’s agriculture, industry, and daily life heavily reliant on the waters of the Indus River system. The National Security Committee has made it clear that any attempt to block or divert Pakistan’s share of water will be met with full force.
The committee also called for a review of Pakistan’s entire diplomatic and security posture with respect to India. It announced that Pakistan would suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Shimla Agreement, which is supposed to guide peace and stability between the two nations. The closure of airspace, border crossings, and the halt to all forms of trade with India are seen as punitive measures aimed at signaling Pakistan’s anger at India’s increasing disregard for international agreements. The expulsion of Indian diplomats and the reduction of the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad were also part of Pakistan’s response to India’s recent provocations. The 48-hour deadline for Indian nationals, excluding Sikh pilgrims, to leave Pakistan underscores the gravity of the situation and the heightened tensions between the two nations.
The issue of Kashmir continues to loom large in the discussions between Pakistan and India. Despite India’s repeated efforts to downplay the significance of the Kashmir dispute, the international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly acknowledged Kashmir as an unresolved issue that requires a peaceful resolution. The NSC reiterated that Pakistan stands in unwavering support of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, a principle enshrined in numerous UN resolutions. Pakistan’s leadership has been vocal in condemning India’s ongoing state oppression in Kashmir, particularly following the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, which has sparked widespread protests and calls for autonomy among the Kashmiri population. The National Security Committee condemned India’s continued violations of human rights in Kashmir, noting that such actions have only fueled local resistance and further alienated the region’s population.
The NSC also condemned India’s recent attempts to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which has exacerbated tensions between India’s Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The bill, which has been widely criticized for marginalizing Muslims and other religious minorities in India, has raised concerns about the future of religious harmony in the country. Pakistan has called on India to take responsibility for its failure to protect its citizens and not use events such as the Pahalgam attack to shift focus away from its internal issues. Pakistan has made it clear that it condemns all forms of terrorism, acknowledging the immense loss it has suffered as a frontline state in the global fight against terrorism, but also pointing out that India has not only failed to protect its own citizens but has also been complicit in fostering an environment of extremism.
A critical aspect of Pakistan’s response to India’s provocations is the issue of water security. Pakistan has long accused India of using water as a political weapon, citing instances where India has deliberately blocked or diverted water flowing into Pakistan. The construction of numerous dams by India on rivers that are part of the Indus River system, including the controversial Kishanganga Dam, has been a point of contention for decades. The ongoing legal battle over the Kishanganga Dam, which is currently being heard in the International Court of Justice, is emblematic of the broader dispute over water resources between the two countries. Pakistan’s leadership has consistently argued that India’s actions violate the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty and undermine regional stability.
The National Security Committee’s response to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and India’s broader actions sends a clear message: Pakistan will not tolerate any attempts to undermine its sovereignty, especially when it comes to its access to vital resources like water. The committee has stressed that Pakistan will use all available means to safeguard its national interests, including pursuing diplomatic, legal, and military avenues. The situation remains tense, and it is evident that the path to peace between Pakistan and India will be fraught with challenges. However, Pakistan’s resolve to protect its people and resources, particularly water, has never been stronger, and its leadership has made it clear that any act of aggression will be met with the full force of the nation.
The NSC session, held in Islamabad, was a high-level gathering that reviewed the deteriorating security environment, with particular attention paid to the regional tensions following the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which resulted in the tragic loss of tourists’ lives, has raised alarm bells in Pakistan, and the country has condemned it as part of a broader pattern of violence emanating from the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. The National Security Committee called India’s subsequent actions politically motivated, unjust, and a clear violation of international law, emphasizing that Kashmir remains a central, unresolved dispute between the two countries.
