Diplomatic Fallout Deepens as Pakistan Shuts Airspace, Halts Trade with India

 Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace to Indian-owned and operated airlines and suspend all trade with India. This sharp response follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. India has blamed Pakistan-based terror outfits for orchestrating the attack, prompting a series of retaliatory measures against Islamabad.

The decision to shut down airspace is expected to impact several international flights and comes amid a broader diplomatic standoff. Pakistan has also ordered Indian military advisers stationed at its High Commission to leave by April 30, while India has reciprocated by expelling Pakistani defence personnel. Further, the Attari-Wagah checkpost — a vital route for bilateral and third-country trade — has been closed, and special visa services for Pakistani nationals entering India have been suspended.

Pakistan, reacting strongly to the suspension of the water-sharing pact, warned that any interference with its share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty would be treated as an "act of war." The treaty, brokered in 1960 by the World Bank, has long been a rare example of peaceful cooperation between the two neighbours, even during times of conflict.

The rapid deterioration in diplomatic relations has raised concerns across the region and within international diplomatic circles, as both nations exchange sharp rhetoric and punitive measures. With trade halted, air routes disrupted, and diplomatic channels strained, the already fragile peace in South Asia faces renewed challenges.