Travel alert: Pakistan shuts airspace, suspends visas and Simla Agreement, following Pahalgam terror attack

In a recent update, diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan are rising following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after it was reported that it was an act of cross-border terrorism , a series of retaliatory actions were taken by both India and Pakistan that will affect travel and travellers.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, called it “India’s aggressive posture and baseless allegations.”

On this note, let’s have a look at some major developments travellers should be aware of:

Visa Cancellations (Both India and Pakistan)
Pakistan and India both have cancelled all visas issued to Indian and Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. The suspension includes tourist, business, and diplomatic visas, effectively cutting people-to-people contact. Both the countries' nationals have been given 48 hours time to leave.

Pakistan shuts it airspace
The government of Pakistan has shut down its airspace to all Indian-owned and Indian-operated airlines. This move is expected to cause major disruptions on international and regional flight routes. It might lead to longer routes, delays and costly rerouting for carriers.

Trade and border shutdown
Islamabad has also suspended all trade activities with India, including transit trade routed through third countries. India on the other hand has also closed the Attari-Wagah border, the only operational land route between the two nations. It has been closed indefinitely.

Diplomatic cutdown
Both countries have scaled down their diplomatic presence. By May 1, each high commission will operate with no more than 30 personnel, following the terror attack.

India suspends Indus Waters Treaty
India has announced the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, citing Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism. Pakistan too responded, calling the move a breach of international law and describing it as an “Act of War.”

Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement


In retaliation, Pakistan has suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement which was a major peace treaty signed between the two countries after the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. The agreement was aimed to restore peace between India and Pakistan and was signed by Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It signified reconciliation and setting guidelines for future bilateral relations following the creation of Bangladesh.