India warned not to block or divert river flow into Pakistan
\n Islamabad
\nForeign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said on Friday that Pakistan and its armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation\u2019s sovereignty, borders, and citizens.
\n\u201cWe reject in strongest terms India\u2019s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty,\u201d FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during a weekly news breifing, and called water a \u201cmatter of life and death\u201d for Pakistan. The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, regulates water distribution between the two countries.
\nShafqat Ali Khan added that Pakistan reserves the right to suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Accord, due to New Delhi\u2019s \u201cirresponsible behaviour.\u201d
\nThe warning follows a National Security Council meeting where Islamabad strongly condemned Indian threats and accused India of violating international law through extrajudicial killings and support for terrorism abroad.
\nPakistan has also suspended all movement through the Wagah border, allowing only returnees to cross until April 30. Visas issued under the SAARC scheme to Indian citizens have been cancelled, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims.
\nFurther measures include declaring Indian defence and diplomatic advisors persona non grata, ordering them to leave Pakistan by April 30. Pakistan has also limited Indian High Commission staff to 30 and suspended airspace access for Indian carriers.
\nTrade with India, including third-party trade, has been suspended.
\nShafqat Ali Khan also confirmed recent high-level diplomatic engagements, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif\u2019s visit to T\u00fcrkiye and meetings with UAE and Rwandan officials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
India warned not to block or divert river flow into Pakistan Islamabad Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said on Friday that Pakistan and its armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation\u2019s sovereignty, borders, and citizens. \u201cWe reject in strongest terms India\u2019s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty,\u201d FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-474673","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n