This comes hours after Pakistan said that it “shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.”
April 25: As tensions escalate between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, the Indian Army Friday retaliated to firing by the Pakistan military at some places along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been no reports of any casualties.
The Indian Army has effectively responded to firing by Pakistan military at some places along Line of Control in J&K, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.
“There were incidents of small arm firing at some places on Line of Control initiated by Pakistan,” the source said, while adding: “The firing was effectively responded to.”
This comes hours after Pakistan said that it “shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.”
A statement from its Prime Minister’s Office said Pakistan “vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance” and any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as “an Act of War”.
India has also ratcheted up the pressure on Pakistan, informing them formally late on Thursday that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was on hold from immediate effect. It also decided to cancel all existing visas to Pak nationals with effect from April 27 and suspend visa services for them.
Additionally, New Delhi advised its nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan and asked those still there to return.
Thursday’s retaliation, after the pahalgam attack, is the strongest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The Pahalgam attack is also the deadliest terror strike on civilians in India since Mumbai in 2008.(IE)
