The deadly incident in Jammu and Kashmir claimed 26 lives and left many others wounded.
India has downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced several other retaliatory measures in response to the cross-border assault by militants into India’s territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday that killed 26 civilians.
A Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday decided on five retaliatory measures. It includes declaring Pakistan High Commission defense advisors persona non grata and reducing the strength of Islamabad’s diplomatic mission in India from 55 to 30 people. India will be withdrawing its own military advisors from the its High Commission in Pakistani capital.
The reponse also includes canceling visas for Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, which entitles certain categories of dignitaries to a Special Travel Document, thus exempting them from visas within the region. SAARC, or the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
While briefing the media after the meeting, Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said that the defense, military, naval, and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission have a week to leave India. Pakistani nationals currently in India under the SVES regime have 48 hours to leave the country.
India also closed the Integrated Check Post Attari, commonly known as the Wagah-Attari border between the two nations, with immediate effect. “Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025,” Misri added, effectively giving a narrow window for existing travelers to return.
New Delhi also announced halting the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with immediate effect. The treaty delimited the rights and obligations of both South Asian neighbors concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system. “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,” Misri stated.
At least 26 people, including two foreign tourists, were killed by a group of terrorists in one of the most deadly attacks on civilians in Kashmir in a decade. The terrorists opened fire at tourists who were visiting a famous hotspot, Baisaran meadows, in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon. Over 20 people were also wounded, some with critical injuries. The Resistance Front, a militant group affiliated with the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
New Delhi has long accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism – a claim denied by Islamabad. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed “concerns” over the loss of lives, extending condolences to the victims and wishing “the injured a speedy recovery.” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the National Security Committee to assess the situation.
