Recognizing the seriousness of the Pahalgam terrorist attack this week, India has sent out a strong signal to Pakistan to stop supporting cross-border tourism by taking a number of steps including suspending the Indus Water Treaty.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is chaired by the prime minister and includes the home minister, the defence minister and the external affairs minister, held a meeting on Wednesday evening to take stock of the situation after the 22 April attack which has claimed the lives of 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured.

In a statement, the foreign secretary said, “Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many Governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned this terror attack. The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism.”

In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out, the statement said. “It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory [of Jammu and Kashmir] and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.”

Recognizing the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the CCS decided upon the following measures:

(i) 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.

(ii) The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025.

(iii) Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.

(iv) The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.

(v) The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by 01 May 2025.

According to the statement, the CCS reviewed the overall security situation and 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. “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.”