New Delhi – In a significant diplomatic and strategic response to Tuesday’s deadly assault in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government has announced sweeping actions against Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has implemented unprecedented measures, demonstrating India’s hardened stance on cross-border terrorism.
Cabinet Committee on Security Convenes Emergency Meeting
Prime Minister Modi, who cut short his state visit to Saudi Arabia, returned to India Wednesday morning to chair an urgent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The briefing to the CCS highlighted clear cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam terror attack, according to a government statement released after the meeting.
“It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development,” the statement emphasized, suggesting the timing was deliberately chosen to destabilize the region’s improving situation.
Five Major Actions Against Pahalgam Terror Attack
Following deliberations, the CCS recommended five punitive actions against Pakistan that represent some of the most severe diplomatic and strategic measures taken by India in recent years:
1. Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
In what could prove to be the most consequential of the actions against Pahalgam terror attack, India has placed the historic Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance with immediate effect. The government statement indicated this suspension would remain until “Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” This action against the Pahalgam terror attack targets a critical agreement that has survived multiple conflicts between the two nations for over six decades.
2. Closure of the Attari Border Crossing
The Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed immediately as part of the actions against Pahalgam terror attack. Those who have already crossed over with valid documentation may return through that route before May 1, 2025, providing a narrow window for travelers to adjust their plans.
3. Visa Restrictions for Pakistani Nationals
In the third of the actions against Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). All previously issued SVES visas to Pakistani nationals have been canceled. Any Pakistani citizen currently in India under an SVES visa has been given just 48 hours to leave the country, creating an urgent situation for affected individuals.
4. Expulsion of Military Diplomats
The Defense, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata and must leave India within a week. As part of these reciprocal actions against Pahalgam terror attack, India will withdraw its own corresponding advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in both diplomatic missions are considered annulled, and five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
5. Reduction in Diplomatic Presence
The final measure among the actions against Pahalgam terror attack involves a significant reduction in the overall strength of the high commissions. The diplomatic presence will be reduced from the present 55 to just 30 through further reductions to be completed by May 1, 2025.
Enhanced Security Measures Following Actions Against Pahalgam Terror Attack
The CCS has directed all forces to maintain heightened vigilance in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The government statement also indicated India’s commitment to pursuing those responsible for acts of terrorism, referencing the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana as evidence of this determination.
“As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror or conspired to make them possible,” the statement affirmed.
Sources indicate that an all-party meeting will be conducted on Thursday to build political consensus around these actions against Pahalgam terror attack.
Details of the Pahalgam Terror Attack
Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam marks the deadliest terrorist incident since the Pulwama strike in 2019, which triggered airstrikes by India on Pakistani territory. In the latest assault, terrorists shot dead 26 people, primarily tourists, sending shockwaves throughout the country.
The Resistance Front (TRF), widely recognized as a shadow organization of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. This connection has directly influenced the severe actions against Pahalgam terror attack announced by the Indian government.
The Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a substantial bounty of ₹20 lakh for information leading to the neutralization of terrorists involved in the attack, underscoring the urgency of bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Implications of Actions Against Pahalgam Terror Attack
Analysts suggest these measures represent a significant escalation in India’s response to cross-border terrorism. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, in particular, marks a dramatic shift in policy, as this agreement has remained intact even during armed conflicts between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The actions against Pahalgam terror attack are expected to have far-reaching consequences for already strained bilateral relations. Pakistan has yet to officially respond to these announcements, but diplomatic sources anticipate strong protests from Islamabad.
Regional security experts warn that these actions against Pahalgam terror attack could potentially lead to increased tensions along the Line of Control and international border. However, the Indian government appears determined to send a clear message that cross-border terrorism will face serious consequences.
As India implements these actions against Pahalgam terror attack, the international community watches closely to see how this latest crisis between the long-standing adversaries will evolve in the coming days.
