ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Indian government suspended the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and ordered the cancellation of visas of Pakistani nationals, a day after the killing of at least 26 tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The decisions were taken during the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening after the deadliest attack in Indian occupied Kashmir.
The attack took place in Pahalgam — a tourist hotspot in the scenic Muslim-majority territory that draws thousands of visitors every summer. At least 26 people were killed, AFP reported, citing a hospital list of the dead that was verified by police.
Addressing the media after the high-level meeting, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme visas.
Misri added that any Pakistani national holding such visas has 48 hours to leave India.
Furthermore, he announced that the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty would take immediate effect.
India also ordered the expulsion of Pakistani diplomats from India, declaring them persona non grata within a week.
In addition to that, the Foreign Secretary stated that the Wagah-Attari border will be closed with immediate effect. “Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025,” he added.
As India escalated the diplomatic rift with Pakistan, Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif has convened the meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday morning to respond to the Indian government’s statement this evening.
According to the sources, top military and civilian leadership will participate in the high-level meeting and will give an effective response to India’s actions.
