Pakistan has warned it could halt a key peace deal with India over recent violence in the disputed Kashmir region as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
Pakistan has raised the possibility of suspending the Simla Agreement, signed after the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, in which both countries agreed to resolve future differences peacefully through bilateral talks without third-party intervention or violence.
Under the agreement, India and Pakistan established the Line of Control, formerly known as the Ceasefire Line, which is the highly militarized de facto border dividing disputed Kashmir between the two countries.
Pakistan's warning comes in response to a diplomatic overture from New Delhi, which blames Islamabad for a recent deadly attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in the disputed Kashmir region.
On Wednesday evening, India accused Pakistan of promoting “cross-border terrorism” and took diplomatic measures including downgrading diplomatic ties, suspending a key water-sharing agreement and closing a key land border crossing with Pakistan.
Pakistan has denied India's accusations, while a previously unknown militant group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement issued on Thursday, India's Ministry of External Affairs said all visas issued to Pakistani citizens would be cancelled from Sunday. It also advised Indian citizens not to visit Pakistan.
In response, Pakistan cancelled visas for Indian citizens, closed its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspended all trade with India, including trade with third countries.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
