Indus Treaty Fallout: Pakistan Ousts Indian Officials, Alleges False Flag Operation
News Desk
Islamabad: In a significant escalation of diplomatic hostilities, Pakistan on Thursday formally downgraded its ties with India, expelling Indian defence officials and slashing the Indian High Commission’s staff in Islamabad.
The move came in response to what Islamabad termed as “provocative and unilateral” Indian actions, including an alleged false flag operation in Pahalgam and the abrupt suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Indian Charge d’Affaires, Geetika Srivastava, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed a formal written démarche outlining Pakistan’s retaliatory steps. According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan has asked India to reduce its High Commission staff in Islamabad to 30 members, a drastic cut from the existing strength.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/water-war-looms-pakistan-cuts-all-ties-with-india/
Among those declared persona non grata are India’s defence, naval, and air attachés along with related staff. They have been directed to leave Pakistan immediately.
“These decisions reflect Pakistan’s sovereign response to India’s aggressive diplomatic and military posture,” a Foreign Office source told the media. “We have communicated all measures through proper diplomatic channels.”
Protesters Rally at Indian Mission
Simultaneously, a large and vocal protest erupted outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Organized by civil society groups and concerned citizens, the demonstration was a show of resistance against what they termed India’s “water aggression” and efforts to scapegoat Pakistan in the Pahalgam incident.
Chanting slogans such as “Stop Indian Water Terrorism!” and “Modi Sarkar Murdabad!” protesters demanded international scrutiny over India’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement considered a critical component of regional peace and water-sharing in South Asia.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/water-diverting-could-be-considered-an-act-of-war-pakistan/
The rally, which proceeded peacefully, saw demonstrators carrying placards and calling for justice, as police and paramilitary forces maintained a tight security cordon around the enclave.
India Hits Back with Visa Ban
In a parallel move, India announced a sweeping suspension of all visa services to Pakistani nationals. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that all valid visas issued to Pakistanis would be revoked from April 27, with medical visas allowed only until April 29. Pakistanis currently in India have been ordered to leave before the expiration of their visas.
India has also begun downsizing its own diplomatic presence in Pakistan, reducing its mission staff in Islamabad from 55 to 30.
In addition, New Delhi has pulled out its defence attachés and issued a persona non grata note to Pakistan’s top envoy in India, Saad Ahmad Warraich, in apparent retaliation.
The latest moves represent a rapid deterioration in already strained India-Pakistan relations, with both sides accusing each other of provocation and subversion. Regional observers warn that the diplomatic standoff could spiral into broader instability unless international mediation is initiated.
Pahalgam Attack and Treaty Fallout
Tensions have been simmering since the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, which Indian authorities blamed on operatives allegedly backed by Pakistan. Islamabad, however, has dismissed the claim as a “fabricated false flag operation” designed to malign Pakistan and divert attention from India’s domestic crises.
Adding fuel to the fire was India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed water sharing between the two countries since 1960. Pakistan has strongly condemned the move, calling it a breach of international law and a threat to millions dependent on the shared river system.
South Asia on Edge
With diplomatic channels narrowing and mutual distrust deepening, both nations appear to be locking into hardline positions. Analysts warn that unless regional allies or international stakeholders intervene, the standoff could have serious implications for peace and cooperation in South Asia.
