Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it is expelling the Indian High Commissioner and suspending bilateral trade with its nuclear-armed neighbour, days after New Delhi stripped the Kashmir region of its special autonomy.
"We will call back our ambassador from Delhi and send back their envoy," foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced in televised comments, while a government statement declared that Pakistan will suspend trade in a downgrading of diplomatic ties between the arch rivals.
The Indian government on Monday abolished Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a crucial meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad which was attended by top civil and military leadership.
A statement issued after the meeting read that the committee discussed situation "arising out of unilateral and illegal actions" by the Indian government, situation inside Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control.
The committee decided "downgrading of diplomatic relations with India" and "suspension of bilateral trade with India," the statement said.
The NSC also decided to review "bilateral arrangements" with India.
The Committee resolved to take the matter (abolition of the Article 370 by India) to the United Nations, including the Security Council, the statement said.
