SRINAGAR: India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and announced a downgrading of diplomatic relations with Pakistan, including the expulsion of its military advisors, in response to the April 23 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by senior ministers and top security officials. The CCS meeting, which lasted around two-and-a-half hours, firmed up a range of measures in light of the cross-border linkages to the attack.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a press briefing, said that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly ends its support for cross-border terrorism. Diplomatic staff at the High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad will be reduced from 55 to 30 by May 1. India has declared Pakistan’s defence, naval, and air advisors persona non grata, giving them one week to leave the country. India will also withdraw its own defence, navy, and air advisors from Islamabad, along with five support staff from each side.
The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the only operational land crossing between the two countries, has been ordered shut with immediate effect. Pakistani nationals currently in India on valid documentation may return via the post until May 1. In addition, India has suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, cancelling all visas issued under the scheme.
As part of the response, the official X account of the Government of Pakistan has been blocked in India. The CCS condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms, expressed condolences to the families of those killed, and directed security agencies to maintain a high level of vigilance. The CCS resolved that those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice, and their sponsors will be held accountable. Misri added that India will remain firm in its pursuit of individuals involved in acts of terror, as demonstrated in the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana.
The CCS noted that the attack came in the wake of successful elections and continued economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. India has received strong international support following the incident, with many governments expressing solidarity and condemning the attack unequivocally.
