Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday decided to pause the Indus Water Treaty, rescind SAARC visas of Pakistan nationals, has asked those in the country to leave within 48 hours. This comes a day after the Pahalgam terror attack where militants killed at least 26 people and injured another 10.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are present, along with other officials. Modi returned to India on Wednesday after cutting short his 2-day trip to Saudi Arabia. Shah met the victims’ families in Jammu and Kashmir earlier in the day, and said that “Bharat will not bend to terror”.
Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary at the MEA, said that strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned this terror attack. He also added that 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. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development,” he said.
Vikram Misri said after recognising 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 Attari Check Post 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 Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.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 affected by 01 May 2025.
