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NEW DELHI: The Centre has taken several key decisions over the last three days following the brutal April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
As news of the attack broke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately cut short his Saudi Arabia visit and rushed back to India to assess the situation and formulate proper retaliation and response against the perpetrators and planners of the attack.
In its first move, India severed its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of having a hand in the attack. The Ministry of external affairs said the attack came “in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development”.
Following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by PM Modi, foreign secretary Vikram Misri outlined the steps during a special press conference.
Here are the key decisions the government took following the Pahalgam attack:
Suspension of Indus water treaty
India held the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan ceases support for terrorism.
Brokered by the World Bank in 1960, the treaty has dictated the distribution and use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. The treaty benefited Pakistan as it received about 80% of the total water flow from these rivers, which are vital for agriculture in Pakistan, especially in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Paatil recently said: “A roadmap was prepared in the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Three options were discussed in the meeting. The government is working on short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures so that not even a drop of water goes to Pakistan. Soon, desilting of rivers will be done to stop the water and divert it.”
Pakistan said any attempt to divert water meant for it under the Indus Waters Treaty will be an “act of war.”
Persona non grata for Pakistan diplomats
The government also formally handed persona non grata to Pakistan’s top diplomats in India. India also expelled Pakistan’s three military attaches and directed Islamabad to downsize the staff strength at its high commission in New Delhi from 55 to 30.
India had last downgraded diplomatic ties in 2020 by reducing the mission strength to half of what it was earlier.
Visas suspended for all Pakistani nationals
The government suspended all kinds of visas for Pakistani nationals and asked them to leave the country by April 27. However, the medical visas will be valid for an additional two days and will stand revoked on April 29.
“In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect,” the ministry of external affairs said.
The ministry advised the Indians in Pakistan to return at the earliest.
Integrated Check Post at Attari shut
India also stopped the only operational land border crossing between the two countries. Integrated Check Post at Attari in Punjab were shut and those who crossed over with valid endorsements were directed to return through that route before May 1.
Navy tests missile, IAF launches huge drill
Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Surat on Thursday completed a successful test of a medium-range surface-to-air missile with an approximate range of 70 km.
Meanwhile, Indian Air Force (IAF) executed ‘Exercise Aakraman’, a comprehensive operational drill across the central sector, featuring its premier fighter aircraft, including the Rafale jets.
Army allowed to fly grounded ‘Dhruv’ copters for counter ops
Defence ministry has given the Army permission to fly the ‘Dhruv’ advanced light helicopters (ALHs) in Srinagar and adjoining areas to help the intensive counter-terror operations launched after the Pahalgam terror massacre. All the 330 twin-engine ALHs in the armed forces were grounded for safety checks since a crash killed two Coast Guard pilots and an aircrew diver in Porbandar on Jan 5.
This majorly hit military operations and preparedness, especially along the borders with China and Pakistan. “Permission has been given to the Army to fly its ALHs in Srinagar and adjoining areas as per the requirements of the ground force commanders,” an official said on Wednesday.
Scaled down Beating Retreat at Attari border
Border security force also “scaled down” the Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari border. The Indian parade commander also did not move forward to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart during the ceremony.
Many visitors came to watch the retreat ceremony at the Joint Check Post (JCP) Attari border.
Civilian movement near border halted
The India-Pakistan border at Suchetgarh in Jammu has been closed to civilian movement by the Border Security Force (BSF) following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
The BSF has halted civilian access at the Octroi Post in Suchetgarh, which is a popular spot for visitors to see the zero point of the border. This closure is part of heightened security measures amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the attack, which was carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist group. The decision also follows similar closures at other border points, including the Attari Integrated Check Post in Amritsar.
Centre holds all-party meeting
An all-party meeting was held on April 24 to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians and injured several others.
Chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, the meeting included leaders from 15 political parties and key Union ministers such as Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar. The leaders unanimously condemned the attack and expressed full solidarity with the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism.
The government briefed the participants on the attack, security lapses, and the retaliatory measures taken, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the expulsion of Pakistani nationals from India.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, extended their full support to the government’s actions but also raised concerns about security lapses and called for accountability.
Amit Shah asks states to ensure Pakistanis leave
A day after the Centre suspended visas for all Pakisanti nationals in India, Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday reached out to all chief ministers, directing them to identify Pakistani nationals residing in their states and initiate steps to ensure their exit from the country by April 27-29.
The Centre had a day earlier suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, except for medical visas, which will remain valid till April 29. “In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect,” the ministry of external affairs said.
The ministry further advised all Indian nationals in Pakistan to return at the earliest and warned Pakistani citizens in India to leave before the expiry of their amended visas.
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