The Indian government is thinking about closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. This decision is part of India’s retaliatory actions against Pakistan-based militants involved in the attack.

If implemented, Pakistani airlines would need to reroute their flights over countries like China or Sri Lanka to reach Southeast Asian destinations such as Kuala Lumpur. Sources say that Pakistani airlines have already started avoiding Indian airspace, fearing further retaliatory actions after the April 22 attack. In that incident, militants opened fire on civilians in Pahalgam, killing 26 people.

India is also considering a ban on Pakistani ships at Indian ports. This follows Pakistan’s decision last week to close its airspace to Indian airlines due to rising tensions over Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism.

Here are the 7 measures announced by India against Pakistan:

  1. Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: On Wednesday, India suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty — a pact brokered by the World Bank in 1960 governing the distribution of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan. The suspension will continue unless Pakistan verifiably halts its support for cross-border terrorism. The river system includes the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab (western rivers) and the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej (eastern rivers).
  2. Pakistan told to cut down its diplomats in India: On Wednesday, India said it would send back three of Pakistan’s military officers, called military attachés. The government also told Pakistan to reduce the number of people working at its high commission (embassy) in New Delhi — from 55 staff members to just 30.
  3. No more SAARC visa perks for Pakistanis: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that Pakistani citizens will no longer be allowed to enter India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). He also said that any Pakistani national currently in India on this visa must leave the country within 48 hours.
  4. Attari Border Crossing closed immediately: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, decided to shut down the Integrated Check Post at Attari right away. This post is the only working land border between India and Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri added that people who have already crossed into India with valid documents can still return through the same route, but only until May 1.
  5. Military advisors were asked to leave: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “The defence, military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata,” which means they are no longer welcome in India. These officials have been given one week to leave the country. India will also bring back its own defence, navy, and air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
  6. Suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals: On Thursday, India announced that it would suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals immediately. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that all valid visas previously issued to Pakistani citizens will be revoked starting April 27. It also mentioned that medical visas granted to Pakistani nationals will remain valid only until April 29, and all Pakistani nationals in India must leave before their visas expire.
  7. Retreat ceremony scaled down at border: The Border Security Force (BSF) also said on Thursday that it has scaled down the popular retreat ceremony at the Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki points along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. This ceremony, which has been taking place since 1959, usually attracts hundreds of visitors, including foreign tourists and locals, who come to watch the flag-lowering and retreat rituals at the Attari-Wagah border daily.

 Read: Owaisi backs Indus Treaty suspension but asks, where will water go?