National Desk
24 April
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist and Research Analysist
In response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the central government of India has taken several serious measures to ensure national security and send a strong message to Pakistan. The deadly attack, which took place in April, resulted in the tragic death of 28 civilians.
To discuss the situation in detail, the Government of India has called for an all-party meeting at 6 PM today at the Parliament House. According to sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the meeting, while Home Minister Amit Shah will also participate. The aim is to brief all political parties on the current situation and the government’s action plan.
Following the attack, India has taken several strict decisions against Pakistan for allegedly supporting cross-border terrorism. One major step includes banning Pakistan’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle in India.
Here are the key actions taken by the Indian government:
Indus Waters Treaty Suspended: In a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, India decided to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan stops supporting terrorism in a trustworthy and irreversible way.
Closure of Integrated Attari Check Post: The government has ordered the immediate closure of the Attari border checkpoint. Additionally, India has revoked visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and directed all Pakistani citizens in India to leave the country within 48 hours.
Pakistan Military Officials Declared ‘Persona Non Grata’: India has declared military, naval, and air advisors at the Pakistan High Commission as “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave India within one week.
India Recalls Defence Advisors from Islamabad: As a reciprocal step, India has decided to withdraw its own military, naval, and air advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad. Their posts will be considered dissolved. Five assistant staff members from both high commissions will also be recalled.
Staff Strength to be Reduced: From May 1, 2025, the strength of both high commissions will be reduced from the current 55 staff members to 30.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced these decisions during a press briefing held on Wednesday after the government meetings. These actions reflect India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and a firm stand on national security.