Srinagar: In the aftermath of Pulwama attack in 2019, India launched a surgical strike over Pakistan but in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack on tourists, it did something different and more tangible. It put Indus Water Treaty on hold, posing an existential threat to Pakistan.
Hitting at the “the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack” in Pahalgam that killed at least 26 people, India on Wednesday “held in abeyance” the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, expelled diplomats and defence forces officials from Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, and cancelled all visas granted to Pakistan nationals, asking them to leave in 48 hours.
Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on Wednesday evening under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
“The CCS was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. A number of others sustained injuries. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured,” he said.
“Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many Governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned this terror attack. The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism,” he said.
“In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development,” he said.
As immediate retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said the CCS decided on the following measures:
(i) The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
(ii) The Integrated Check Post, Attari, will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025.
(iii) Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.
(iv) The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
(v) The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1, 2025.
“The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account. As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible,” he said.
Putting Indus Water Treaty on hold is a grave economic issue as well as existential issue for Pakistan.
By targeting tourists in Kashmir, Pakistan has attacked Kashmir’s economy and needed to be paid back in the same coin and that is what India has done by suspending Indus Water Treaty.
