India has announced a series of strong retaliatory measures against Pakistan following an attack in Pahalgam including suspension of the Indus Water treaty. The measures constitute India’s official accusation against Pakistan for the attack, although no evidence has been provided.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misria announced the measures in a statement on Wednesday outlining immediate diplomatic actions, significantly escalating tensions between the two nations. The statement came after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting came after unidentified gunmen killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Indian Occupied Kashmir. The dead included foreigners as well as a serving Navy officer.
The most dramatic move is the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. India declared it will no longer consider itself a participant or bound by the terms of the treaty, a landmark agreement governing the sharing of Indus River waters.
Further escalating the situation, India has closed the Wagah-Attari border crossing with immediate effect, halting all movement between the two countries. All SAARC visas issued to Pakistani nationals have been revoked, with those currently in India given until May 1 to depart.
In a significant diplomatic expulsion, India declared three Pakistani military attachés at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, ordering their immediate departure. In reciprocal action, India is withdrawing its own three military attachés from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Additionally, five support staff members from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad have also been withdrawn, along with the families of all military attachés.
Finally, India has drastically reduced the staffing levels at both diplomatic missions. The strength of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has been reduced from 55 to 30 personnel, with the India High Commission in Islamabad also operating at a reduced strength of 30.
The government statement strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and linked it to Pakistan, though no direct evidence was presented in the statement.
