As the Indo-Pakistan crisis intensifies following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, Sri Lanka finds itself at the center of a delicate diplomatic balancing act. With India announcing the suspension of a decades-old water treaty with Pakistan as retaliation, regional tensions have reached a boiling point, raising fears of a larger geopolitical fallout.
In the midst of this crisis, Pakistan has made clear its expectation that Sri Lanka maintain a non-aligned stance, a hallmark of its foreign policy tradition. However, Colombo’s recent diplomatic moves have raised eyebrows in Islamabad.
Reports indicate that Pakistani authorities are closely monitoring Sri Lanka’s position following President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. A statement released by Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division condemned the terrorist strike, signaling solidarity with India. This response, while aligned with global anti-terror sentiment, has not sat well with Pakistan.
Pakistani officials have expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s apparent lack of neutrality, especially in light of its silence regarding the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on March 11, 2025. The train, en route from Quetta to Peshawar, was taken over by separatist militants, a significant act of domestic terrorism that Colombo did not publicly address.
A senior Pakistani diplomat reportedly stated that Pakistan unequivocally condemns terrorism and is prepared for an international probe into the Pahalgam attack. At the same time, Islamabad remains wary of regional alliances and is watching Sri Lanka’s every move. According to foreign media reports, Pakistan views India’s suspension of water from the Indus River as a hostile act that could provoke military retaliation. The risk of escalation between two nuclear-armed states is now more real than ever.
While India sharpens its posture, with Prime Minister Modi instructing military forces to remain on high alert, Sri Lanka is attempting to reaffirm its neutral stance. The Ministry of External Affairs has officially declared that Sri Lanka remains neutral in the current Indo-Pakistani dispute.
Nevertheless, the optics of recent events have sparked speculation. Has Sri Lanka, wittingly or unwittingly, tilted closer to India? And if so, what are the potential consequences?
For now, Sri Lanka must navigate these treacherous diplomatic waters with extreme caution. Any perceived favoritism could invite economic or strategic repercussions. The nation’s traditional policy of non-alignment is being put to the ultimate test as two of South Asia’s most powerful neighbors inch closer to open conflict.
In a region where war between India and Pakistan could trigger devastating ripple effects, Sri Lanka’s challenge lies in standing firm, neutral, and clear-headed, a task that may prove harder than ever before.
