In Pahalgam aftermath, India expels Pakistan diplomats, shuts Attari border

A day after the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed at least 26 lives, including that of a Nepali national, India swiftly announced a series of diplomatic and security measures targeting Pakistan.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to suspend the decades-long active Indus Waters Treaty and shut the Attari border, among several other measures.

Briefing the press after the high-level meeting, foreign secretary Vikram Misri, said that the CCS had “condemned the attack in the strongest terms” and offered “deepest condolences to the families of the victims.”

Officials called the attack, which left several others injured, “a cowardly act” targeted at disrupting the peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir.

In response, India imposed the following measures against the neigbouring rival country:

Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty: India has put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on hold with immediate effect.

“This will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” said Misri.

Closure of Attari check post: The integrated check post at Attari will be shut down immediately, the foreign secretary told the press. Those who have crossed into India with valid documentation will have until 1 May to return to Pakistan.

Cancellation of SAARC visa exemptions for Pakistani nationals: All visas issued to Pakistani nationals under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Visa Exemption Scheme have been revoked. “Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave the country,” Misri noted.

Pakistani defense advisors expelled: In another bold move, India declared the defense, naval, and air advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata. They have one week to depart, Misri stated, adding that India will also withdraw its defense advisors from Islamabad.

Reduction in diplomatic staff: The strength of both the Indian and Pakistani High Commissions will be brought down to 30 personnel from the current 55 by 1 May. This marks a significant step back in bilateral diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile, Misri also said that the government aims to ensure swift justice to the victims, that included tourists and one local.

“The CCS directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account,” he said.

Citing the recent extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana as an example, Misri noted, “India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible.”

Tuesday’s assault in the picturesque Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam was claimed by militants from The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The armed attackers, dressed in camouflage, opened fire at about 3pm local time and had allegedly asked the victims their religion before gunning them down.

The attack is one of the deadliest on civilians in restive Kashmir since the 1990s.

Authorities have launched a manhunt to nab the perpetrators, with the Jammu and Kashmir police announcing a bounty of Rs20 lakh for information leading to terrorists.