New Delhi: In a strong and unprecedented response to the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people including a foreign national, India has announced sweeping measures against Pakistan. The decisions were revealed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at a press conference following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Recognizing what it called “conclusive cross-border links” in the Pahalgam attack, the Ministry of External Affairs declared a series of decisive moves aimed at isolating Pakistan diplomatically and strategically.
Key announcements made during the briefing:
- Indus Waters Treaty Suspended:
“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,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. - SAARC Visa Exemption Withdrawn:
“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 a SPES visa has 48 hours to leave India,” he added. - Expulsion of Military Diplomats:
In a significant diplomatic snub, Misri announced, “The Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India.” - Reciprocal Withdrawal of Indian Advisors:
“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,” he confirmed.
The CCS, India’s apex body for national security matters, met earlier in the day under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The meeting included key ministers—Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
