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Friday, 25 April, 2025 I 26 Shawwal, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 288 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
USURPATION OF WATER SHARE TO BE CONSIDERED ‘ACT OF WAR,’ PAKISTAN RETALIATES AGAINST INDIA’S ESCALATING MOVES PAHALGAM ATTACK
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NSC MEETING CHAIRED BY PM SHEHBAZ TAKES A HOST OF DECISIONS TO COUNTER INDIA’S ESCALATING MOVES
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FORUM REJECTS INDIAN ANNOUNCEMENT TO HOLD IWT IN ABEYANCE, NOTING PACT WAS A BINDING INT’L AGREEMENT
COMMITTEE DECIDES TO CLOSE AIRSPACE FOR ALL INDIAN OWNED OR INDIAN OPERATED AIRLINES ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
AKISTAN on Thursday announced “a whole host of retaliatory actions,” including the suspension of trade and bilateral accords, and closure of airspaces with India, following New Delhi’s slew of aggressive measures against the country in the wake of the deadly attack in India Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan charted the retaliatory actions in response to India during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) convened in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. The NSC meeting was attended by top government and military officials, including Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad, the defence minister, foreign minister, interior minister and national security adviser among others, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting. In the attack in Pahalgam, a tourist attraction in India-occupied Kashmir, gunmen killed at least 26 tourists and injured 17 others. Following the attack, India on Wednesday announced suspension of Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and closure of Attari border checkpost. Addressing the media, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated
ist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of the elections in the union territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development. Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack,
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present at the presser. He rattled off the NSC’s decisions, saying that Pakistan had responded in kind to the Indian announcements. Dar said Pakistan had noted the arrival of some “foreign nationals” in Srinagar who were under monitoring by intelligence agencies. “We know that Indian intelligence is supporting them and the foreigners are trying to export IEDs (improvised explosive devices). You can imagine where they are trying to export them,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s armed forces were ready to respond to any challenge. “We are prepared in regard to defence. If anyone tries to attempt any adventure, then they’ve tried in the past as well and failed so this time around it will be even worse for them.”
Dar asks India to present evidence of allegations against Pakistan STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday challenged India to present evidence, if it had any, of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the deadly Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir. “India is habitual of playing the blame game and if there is any evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in Pahalgam attack, please share it with us and the world,” DPM Dar said while addressing a press conference after the National Security Committee meeting. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan were alos
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich, to discuss matters of mutual interest, with a strong focus on regional connectivity and strengthening bilateral ties. During the call, Ishaq Dar briefed his Uzbek counterpart on his recent engagements in Kabul, particularly regarding progress on the UzbekistanAfghanistan-Pakistan Railway Line Project—a major initiative aimed at transforming regional trade and transit dynamics. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed optimism that the framework agreement for the strategic project would soon be finalized and signed by the three participating countries. The agreement is seen as a crucial step toward improving connectivity and economic integration across Central and South Asia.
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India summoned Pakistan’s seniormost diplomat in New Delhi, a day after it announced the suspension of decades-old Indus Water Treaty, the key water-sharing treaty between the two countries. India’s move comes a day after New Delhi announced different escalating moves, including the suspension of decades-old Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and downgrading of diplomatic ties in the wake of militants attack that killed 26 men in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Indian BSF soldier arrested in Pakistan ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Rangers on Thursday captured a soldier of the Indian Border Security Force in Punjab, according to reports on Indian media. The Indian soldier reportedly strayed into Pakistani territory when he was arrested. According to Indian media, the trooper was captured in the Ferozepur area and was identified as Constable P K Singh
the CCS decided upon the following measures: the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” According to PMO statement, the partic-
ipants discussed the national security environment and the regional situation, particularly in the wake of Pahalgam attack in the Anantnag District of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday last.
NEW DELHI
supporting “cross-border terrorism” and downgraded ties with its neighbour with a raft of diplomatic measures. Despite Pakistan’s categorical denial regarding its role in the incident, PM Modiled government has since then suspended the Indus Water Treaty and banned the entry of Pakistani nationals. Apart from the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari, New Delhi has also asked military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission to leave the country within a week while declaring them persona non grata. Recalling its own advisers, the neighbouring country has also announced the overall strength of the High Commissions to 30 from the present 55 by May 1 — which is also the deadline for Pakistanis to leave the country.
Modi vows to punish Pahalgam attack perpetrators, backers AGENCIES
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed to punish backers and those responsible for carrying out attack against tourists in the Pahalgam area in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), resulting in over two dozen fatalities. “I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer [….] We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” PM Modi said while addressing a gathering in the state of Bihar. The shooting in the tourist hotpot on Tuesday — the deadliest attack on civilians in the disputed Muslim-majority territory since 2000 — has led to critical diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after the former accused the latter of
New Delhi summons ‘top Pakistani diplomat’ after series of diplomatic downgrades STAFF REPORT
DECIDES TO SUSPEND ALL BILATERAL AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SIMLA AGREEMENT
TRADE WITH INDIA INCLUDING TO AND FROM ANY THIRD COUNTRY THROUGH PAKISTAN SUSPENDED FORTHWITH
that a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India’s highest decisionmaking body on national security, was held with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the chair on the incident. “In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terror-
DPM, Uzbek FM discuss railway project, regional ties in phone call STAFF REPORT
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The attack, which took place at a popular tourist destination in Baisaran near Pahalgam in Anantnag district, is the deadliest in nearly two decades targeting civilians in the region. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the attack involved cross-border elements and confirmed a series of diplomatic downgrades, including the closure of the only land crossing with Pakistan and the withdrawal of India’s defence attachés from Islamabad. India has also declared Pakistan’s defence advisers in New Delhi persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country within a week.
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT), brokered by the World Bank in 1960, had survived multiple wars and decades of hostility. Misri said India would now hold the treaty “in abeyance”. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has scheduled to chair a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) today to discuss a coordinated response, according to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Tensions between the nucleararmed neighbours have remained high since India revoked the special status of IIOJK in 2019. Pakistan subsequently expelled India’s envoy and has not posted an ambassador in New Delhi since.
of the 182nd battalion of the BSF. “During the routine movement, Singh inadvertently moved beyond the Indian border fence and entered Pakistani territory, where the Pakistan Rangers detained him across the Ferozepur border,” said India Today. The incident comes amid increased tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK).
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Fazl criticizes law and order collapse, rejects mines and minerals bill ISLAMABAD
NEWS DESK
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday strongly condemned the worsening law and order situation in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan, and Sindh, where armed groups are reportedly extorting money from the public. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Fazl accused the government of failing to ensure the safety and security of citizens. Fazl also rejected the Mines and Mineral Bill passed by the Balochistan Assembly and stated that explanations would be sought from party members in Balochistan who voted in favor of the legislation. He emphasized that the JUI-F General Council had rejected similar bills in both K-P and Balochistan, with consequences for those who supported them.
India blocks Pakistan government’s X account following Pahalgam incident ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 men in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India has taken several retaliatory measures against Pakistan. Among these, the Indian government has blocked the official X (formerly Twitter) ac-
count of the Government of Pakistan within its territory. The account now displays a message stating it has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand. The decision to block the account follows the attack in Baisaran Valley, near Pahalgam, where militants opened fire on tourists, leading to significant casualties.
No new canals without mutual consensus of provinces in CCI: PM ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday declared that no new canals would be built without mutual consensus by provinces in the Council of Common Interests (CCI), amid severe opposition and protest from many quarters particularly Sindh and uncertainty in view of the India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Addressing a press conference alongside PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after a meeting with the party’s delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides considered the country’s situation in detail and India’s announcements related to the rivers. “Today, we decided in the meeting between the PPP and PML-N with mutual agreement that until a decision is reached with mutual consensus in the CCI, no further
canal will be constructed and the federal government has decided that there will be no further progress on canals without the consensus of opinion among provinces.” “The meeting of CCI would be called on Friday, May 2,” the premier stated. He said he informed the PPP delegation about the decisions reached by the National Security Committee in response to the announcements by India, which took an aggressive stance against Pakistan. “We have issued a press statement against the jingoistic steps of India after deliberations by the National Security Committee,” he added. He said during the meeting with the PPP delegation, the issue of canals was discussed. The prime minister said he explained that Pakistan was a federation and the issue among provinces should be resolved with negotiations and sincerity and according to the national interest. He said it was his stated position for
decades that economically Kalabagh dam was in the interest of the nation, adding however, nothing was more important than the federation and the objections of federating units should be accepted on the issue of Kalabagh dam. He said the issue of canals should be resolved according to mutual consensus. “During the meeting, both the PPP and PML-N decided that the issue of canals would be put before the Council of Common Interests (CCI), he added. “In the CCI meeting, the decisions of Pakistan People’s Party, PML-N and the federal government regarding canals would be endorsed,” he remarked. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto thanked the prime minister for reaching decision about canals in view of the objections raised by the provinces. He also welcomed the step to endorse decisions of this meeting at the CCI forum. Bilawal thanked the premier for hearing
out the PPP and the nation’s reservations and complaints in the detailed engagement and taking important subsequent decisions. He said the prime minister had largely addressed the complaints of those protesting against the government’s policy and expressed hope that the CCI meeting would endorse the decision of no new canal construction without mutual agreement. “We are not taking any decision today, but only affirming that without a consensus, new canals will not be made. I am looking forward to the CCI meeting.” Bilawal strongly condemned India’s announcements, particularly regarding the IWT, and said they were not only illegal but “against humanity”. “We will stand together with you and raise Pakistan’s case not only on the streets but on the international level and will give a befitting response to India’s decision,” the former foreign minister said. Earlier in the meeting, the participants
were informed that the government was engaging all provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for the development of the country’s agriculture policy and water management infrastructure. It was said that water rights of all provinces were enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy2018, with the consensus of all stakeholders. To allay the concerns of all provinces and to ensure food and ecological security, a committee was also being formed with representation from the federation and all provinces that would propose solutions to long-term agriculture needs and water use of all provinces in line with the two documents. “Water is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the Constitution recognised this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through consensus and concerns of any province shall be addressed through due diligence amongst all stakeholders,” said a press release.