After Pahalgam, India Strikes Back: Attari Gate Shut, Water Treaty Suspended, Pakistani Advisors Declared Persona Non Grata

India has announced a bid of sweeping negotiated and strategical steps against Pakistan successful nan aftermath of nan panic onslaught successful Pahalgam that killed 26 people, astir of them tourists. The Cabinet Committee connected Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met connected Wednesday evening and unveiled a package of contiguous retaliatory measures aimed astatine holding Pakistan accountable for cross-border terrorism.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misry stated: “The CCS reviewed nan wide information business and directed each forces to support precocious vigil. It resolved that perpetrators of this onslaught will beryllium brought to justness and their sponsors held to account. As pinch nan caller extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will beryllium unrelenting successful nan pursuit of those who person committed acts of panic aliases conspired to make them possible.”

In its statement, nan CCS outlined nan 5 awesome actions aimed astatine Pakistan. 

Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty: The landmark 1960 statement pinch Pakistan has been held successful abeyance “with contiguous effect” until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”

Closure of Attari checkpost: The integrated checkpost astatine Attari, 1 of nan fewer progressive onshore crossings betwixt India and Pakistan, will beryllium closed. “Those who person crossed complete pinch valid endorsements whitethorn return done that way earlier 1st May 2025,” nan CCS stated.

Revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals: Pakistani nationals will nary longer beryllium permitted to recreation to India nether nan SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. All SPES visas issued successful nan past person been declared cancelled. “Any Pakistani nationalist presently successful India nether SPES visa has 48 hours to time off India.”

Expulsion of Pakistani subject attaches: Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors successful nan Pakistani High Commission successful New Delhi person been declared persona non grata and fixed a week to time off nan country.

Withdrawal of Indian subject attaches from Islamabad: India will reciprocate by withdrawing its Defence, Navy, and Air advisors from nan Indian High Commission successful Islamabad. These posts are now annulled.

The announcements came aft Prime Minister Modi returned early from Saudi Arabia connected Wednesday and held an urgent gathering astatine nan airdrome pinch External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was successful nan U.S. connected an charismatic visit, is returning early to be further information deliberations.

Home Minister Amit Shah had visited nan panic tract successful Baisaran, Pahalgam earlier successful nan time and met pinch immoderate of nan survivors being treated astatine a section hospital. The onslaught successful Baisaran is nan deadliest successful Kashmir since Pulwama successful 2019 and has triggered a activity of outrage crossed nan country.

The CCS decisions awesome a hardening of India’s posture and an effort to diplomatically and strategically isolate Pakistan, while tightening soul information and separator vigilance. The authorities has vowed that nan perpetrators of nan Pahalgam killings “will not beryllium spared and brought to justice.”

Published on: Apr 23, 2025 9:22 PM IST