In a decisive move, the Indian government has announced a stringent five-point plan targeting Pakistan in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including one foreign national. The attack, traced to militant groups operating from Pakistan, has reignited tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Following an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India has implemented a robust set of actions designed to pressure Islamabad diplomatically, economically, and strategically. The government’s aim: to make it clear that state-sponsored terrorism will not go unpunished.
1. Indus Waters Treaty Suspended: A Diplomatic Game-Changer
India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark agreement signed in 1960 that governs water-sharing of the Indus River system between the two countries. This is the first time since its inception that India has halted the treaty’s implementation.
The government stated that the suspension will remain until Pakistan ceases support for cross-border terrorism. Experts say this move not only disrupts water cooperation but also sends a significant political message by striking at one of the most enduring aspects of bilateral engagement.
2. Attari-Wagah Border Check Post Closed
India has ordered the closure of the Attari-Wagah border, a symbolic and functional crossing point for trade and travel. All cross-border movement of goods and civilians has been halted with immediate effect.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, individuals already in India or Pakistan with valid documents will be allowed to return to their home countries by May 1, 2025. This action severely restricts people-to-people contact and is a blow to bilateral economic exchanges.
3. SAARC Visa Exemption Cancelled for Pakistani Nationals
In a move that halts diplomatic goodwill, India has revoked the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani citizens. This decision immediately invalidates all existing SVES visas issued to Pakistani nationals.
Pakistani citizens currently residing in India under the scheme have been given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country. This signals India’s firm stance against allowing any form of movement that could facilitate hostile elements under the guise of diplomatic privileges.
4. Expulsion of Pakistani Military Advisors from New Delhi
India has declared all Pakistani military, naval, and air force advisors stationed at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata. These officials have been ordered to leave India within one week.
In a reciprocal move, India will also withdraw its own military personnel stationed at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. This step underlines India’s intent to reduce direct military-to-military diplomatic engagement, a clear downgrade in bilateral defense relations.
5. Reduction of Diplomatic Personnel in Islamabad
As part of broader diplomatic downsizing, India has announced that its diplomatic staff strength in Pakistan will be reduced from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025.
This reduction reflects New Delhi’s effort to limit bilateral engagement to the minimum necessary, and signals its dissatisfaction with Islamabad’s failure to curb terrorist activities originating from its territory.
A Message Beyond Borders
India’s 5-point plan is not just a reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack—it is a comprehensive policy shift in how New Delhi deals with cross-border terrorism and Pakistan’s involvement in it. Each measure is carefully crafted to strike at symbolic, economic, and diplomatic ties, while avoiding direct military escalation.
The international community has taken note. While some global powers have urged restraint, others have expressed support for India’s right to defend its citizens and sovereignty.
The Pahalgam terror attack has jolted India into launching one of its strongest policy responses against Pakistan in recent years. From the Indus Waters Treaty suspension to the eviction of Pakistani military advisors, the message from New Delhi is loud and clear: there will be consequences for supporting terrorism.
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