Pahalgam Terror Attack: Attari Checkpost Closed, Indus Water Treaty Suspended, Says Mea

The Ministry of External Affairs connected Wednesday said Indus Water Treaty will guidelines suspended and Attari checkpost will beryllium unopen for now. This was decided astatine nan CCS gathering successful New Delhi, which was chaired Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In its first guidance to the Pahalgam Terror Attack, India took a important action by halting nan enforcement of nan 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, stating that it will stay suspended until Pakistan ceases cross-border panic activities. As a result, each method discussions, sharing of data, and approvals for projects nether nan World Bank-facilitated statement person been put connected pause.

India besides declared nan subject advisors posted astatine nan Pakistan High Commission successful New Delhi arsenic persona non grata, efficaciously expelling them from nan country. In a related move, nan Government of India has besides revoked each visas issued to Pakistani citizens nether nan SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) visa exemption scheme.

These decisions people a important escalation successful negotiated measures betwixt nan 2 countries aft 26 visitors were killed successful Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley by nan Resistance Front connected Tuesday. 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that nan caller onslaught was carried retired successful consequence to nan successful behaviour of elections successful Jammu and Kashmir. He besides confirmed that Pakistani nationals are presently not permitted to recreation wrong India. Misri further emphasized that nan perpetrators of nan onslaught will beryllium brought to justness and that those who sponsored nan enactment will beryllium held accountable.

Misri said: "Recognising nan seriousness of this violent attack, nan Cabinet Committee connected Security (CCS) decided upon nan pursuing measures- The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will beryllium held successful abeyance pinch contiguous effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism."

He added: "The integrated checkpost Attari will beryllium closed pinch contiguous effect. Those who person crossed complete pinch valid endorsements whitethorn return done that way earlier 1st May 2025. Pakistani nationals will not beryllium permitted to recreation to India nether nan SAARC visa Exemption scheme. Any SPES visas  issued successful nan past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani nationalist presently successful India nether SPES visa has 48 hours to time off India. The Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors successful nan Pakistani High Commission successful New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They person a week to time off India. India will beryllium withdrawing its ain Defence, Navy and Air advisors from nan Indian High Commission successful Islamabad. These posts successful nan respective High Commissions are deemed annulled." 

The Indus Waters Treaty

As per defence experts, 1 of nan astir decisive actions taken was nan indefinite suspension of nan long-standing Indus Waters Treaty pinch Pakistan. This determination will consequence successful nan cessation of h2o proviso from nan Indus stream and its tributaries - nan Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj - which are captious sources of h2o for tens of millions of group successful Pakistan.

The treaty, signed successful 1960 by some parties, is simply a longstanding statement to stock nan h2o of nan Indus and its tributaries. Despite facing challenges specified arsenic wars and fluctuations successful bilateral relations, it is regarded arsenic 1 of nan astir durable world water-sharing pacts.

Facilitated by nan World Bank, antecedently known arsenic nan International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, nan pact allocated nan waters of nan eastbound rivers - nan Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej - to India, while assigning nan occidental rivers - nan Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab - to Pakistan.

India issued a notification to Pakistan connected August 30, 2024, requesting a reassessment and amendment nether Article XII (3) of nan treaty. The notification cited 3 superior reasons, 1 being nan ongoing rumor of cross-border coercion successful Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding nan changing demographic and nan imperative to expedite cleanable power initiatives successful bid to execute India's emanation targets.