India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
This came after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and firmed up the responses to the terror attack.
Indian Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri said at a media briefing that the 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 treaty’s origins trace back to the partition of India in August 1947, when British rule ended and India and Pakistan emerged as two sovereign nations.
With both nations relying on the same river systems for irrigation and agriculture, an urgent need arose to negotiate an equitable sharing of water resources.
After nine years of discussion, facilitated by the World Bank, then-Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistani President Mohammed Ayub Khan signed the IWT in September 1960.
Under the treaty, India controls the three eastern rivers – Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas – while Pakistan controls the three western rivers – Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus. India is obligated to allow the waters of the western rivers to flow into Pakistan with limited exceptions.
Since the Pahalgam attack, security has ramped up across the Kashmir valley, including personnel from the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Additional checkpoints have also been erected on highways and other sensitive areas.
Indian officials say 25 of those killed were Indian nationals while one was Nepalese.
The attackers “opened indiscriminate fire at Baisaran meadow, a scenic uphill area accessible only by foot or pony rides,” the official said.
Many tourists were caught off guard as the sudden volley of bullets rang out.
The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack and said on social media that it condemned the more than 85,000 “outsiders” who had settled in Kashmir, leading to a “demographic change.”
At least 1,500 people were detained by Indian police across Jammu and Kashmir as part of an investigation into Tuesday’s attack.
Also, India’s Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistani nationals will not be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption programme.
Any visas previously issued under this scheme “are deemed cancelled,” and any Pakistani national in India with one of these visas has 48 hours to leave.
The integrated Attari checkpost between India and Pakistan will be closed with immediate effect.
Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025.
Pakistani Military Advisers Declared ‘Persona Non Grata’
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri has announced that defence, military, naval and air advisers at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi “are declared persona non grata.”
He stated that they will have one week to leave India.
Additionally, Misri added that India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy and air advisers 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.
“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.”
Vikram Misri
Misri concluded the news conference by promising that India will pursue those responsible for the attacks.
“CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigilance. It resolved that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.
“India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror or conspired to make them possible.”
Vikram Misri
Later, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will convene the National Security Committee “to respond to the Indian Government’s statement.”
Dar said in a social media post that the committee will meet on Thursday morning.
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