India’s Strong Response to Terror Attack: Indus Water Treaty Suspended, Wagah Border Closed
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: India has responded very strongly to the terror attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the country’s highest-decision making body on national security, has taken some strict and punishing measures against Pakistan over the “cross-border linkages” that have surfaced in the investigation over the dastardly terror attack in which 26 people were killed.
Among the decisions taken are indefinite suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and closing down of Wagah-Attari border with immediate effect.
The boldest move has been to suspend the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan indefinitely. With this, the water supply from the Indus river and its distributaries – the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj will be stopped. These rivers are the water supply for Pakistan and impacts tens of millions of people in that country.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960. The pact was signed between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank brokering the agreement. That treaty withstood three wars between India and Pakistan – in 1965, 1971, and 1999, but is now suspended indefinitely.
Announcing the measure, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “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.”
Mr Misri, who briefed media persons on the CCS meeting held at the residence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said recognising the seriousness of the terrorist attack, the meeting decided the following measures:
- 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.
- The Integrated Check Post Attari-Wagah border will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Mr Misri also announced that “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.”
The government, meanwhile, has convened an all- party meeting on Thursday in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam.
