Pahalgam terror attack: India decides to keep Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, close Attari border post

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security in New Delhi on April 23, 2025. Photo: PMO via PTI

India has decided to keep the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalagam a day before. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri made the announcement on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) after a meeting of a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the CCS decided upon five measures, Mr. Misri said at a press briefing after the CCS meeting.

Pahalgam terrorist attack: Follow LIVE updates on April 23, 2025

The measures are:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
5. 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.

Also Read | Pahalgam terror attack: Kharge, Rahul Gandhi speak to Amit Shah

Mr. Misri said 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, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the CCS meeting to take stock of the situation and deliberate on the government’s strategy.

Besides the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were present at the meeting, along with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior bureaucrats.

During the meeting that lasted over two-and-a-half hours, Mr. Shah briefed the Prime Minister on the attack and discussed the measures to be taken in its aftermath.

Also Read | People involved in Pahalgam terror attack will get a ‘strong response’; will hunt down those who plotted it: Rajnath Singh

The meeting that started around 6 p.m. and ended at around 8.30 p.m. was held at the Prime Minister’s 7, Lok Nayak Marg residence.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is also part of the CCS, could not attend the meeting as she is on her way back from the United States after cutting short her official visit in the wake of the terror attack.

Among those also present at the meeting were Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Mr. Misri, besides the Prime Minister’s two principal secretaries P.K. Mishra and Shaktikanta Das.

Also Read | Terrorists kept firing for 25-30 minutes, recalls Pahalgam eyewitness

“In the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, chaired a meeting of the CCS at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg,” the Prime Minister said on X.

Prime Minister Modi returned early on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) from Saudi Arabia, cutting short his visit. He held a meeting at the airport soon after his arrival where he discussed the J&K terror attack with Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Doval. Mr. Misri was also part of the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Shah visited Baisaran in Pahalgam, the site where terrorists struck on Tuesday evening (April 22, 2025), as well as the hospital where some of the injured were being treated.

(With PTI inputs)