New Delhi, Apr 23: A day after terrorists massacred 26 people in Pahalgam, India has hit back at Pakistan by putting the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and declared Defence, Military, Naval, and Air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission as persona non grata
“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… The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
He said recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided that 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,
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, allocated the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to Pakistan and the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India.
CCS also decided that the integrated checkpost at Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 1st May 2025.
The Wagah-Attari border, which serves as a symbolic and functional link for limited trade and people-to-people exchanges, will now be closed as part of the new measures.
“Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa Exemption scheme. Any SPES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SPES visa has 48 hours to leave India,” he said.
Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and asked to leave India within a week.
India will be withdrawing its own Defence, Navy, and Air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled.
India has reduced the Pakistan High Commission’s strength to 30 from 55. The Indian High Commission in Islamabad will also maintain 30 strength.
The CCS also reviewed the security situation and directed the armed forces and agencies to maintain high vigil.
Misri said India will pursue those involved in the attack and their sponsors, and will bring them to justice.
He mentioned the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana as an example of India’s efforts in dealing with terrorism.
Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Security met here on Wednesday evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after the dastardly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam killed at least 26 people and injured several others.
Besides the prime minister, the Cabinet Committee on Security comprises Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Sitharaman is on her way back from the United States after she cut short her official visit.
Prime Minister Modi returned early Wednesday from Saudi Arabia. He held a meeting at the airport soon after his arrival where he discussed the J-K terror attack with Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry was also part of the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah visited Baisaran in Pahalgam, the site where terrorists struck on Tuesday evening, as well as the hospital where some of the injured were being treated.