New Delhi, April 23 — In a sharp response to the recent militant strike in Pahalgam, the Indian government on Wednesday initiated a broad set of retaliatory actions, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the immediate shutdown of the Attari border crossing.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a press briefing, said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the moves in light of what he termed “the gravity of this terrorist assault.”
“India has decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance, effective immediately,” Misri said, adding that the treaty will remain inactive “until Pakistan demonstrably and irreversibly ends support for cross-border terrorism.”
As part of the new measures, the integrated checkpost at Attari has been sealed. Those who previously entered India through that post with valid documentation may return via the same route, but only until May 1, 2025.
Pakistani nationals will also no longer qualify for entry under the SAARC visa exemption framework. Visas issued under the Special Protocol on Entry and Stay (SPES) have been declared void, and individuals already present in India on such visas must leave within 48 hours, Misri confirmed.
Besides, the Defence, Naval, Military, and Air Advisors stationed at Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and directed to exit India within a week.
In a reciprocal measure, India will recall its own military advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad. These posts have now been formally dissolved, Misri said.
The developments signal a dramatic downturn in diplomatic engagement between the two
