Pakistan’s top security body will meet today to assess India’s quick response in the wake of one of the deadliest strikes in Pahalgam on Tuesday, which claimed more than 26 people.
The terror attack has since escalated tensions between the two countries and also threatened regional stability, especially in the subcontinent.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), which stands as the most severe response.
The 1960 pact, brokered by the World Bank, has endured through wars and decades of hostility. Its suspension, therefore, marked a watershed moment in the already fraught relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India downplayed all diplomatic ties by closing down the main border transit point, viewing the attack as a grave provocation that warranted significant diplomatic, economic, and logistical pressure on Pakistan.
Pakistan has denied any role in the attack. Yet, the eyewitnesses recount that two of the 6 suspects were not speaking Kashmiri.
“Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif has convened the meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday morning, 24th April 2025, to respond to the Indian Government’s statement of this evening,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar posted on X.
Appearing on a private television channel late on Wednesday, Dar said India's allegations were premature and baseless. “India has not given any evidence. They have not shown any maturity in their response,” Dar said. “This is a non-serious approach. They started creating hype immediately after the incident.”
The statement said, “Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the CCS decided upon the following measures,” detailing how 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 will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025,” it said.
Additionally, Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. “Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.”
Furthermore, defence attachés and advisers at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi had been declared ‘Persona Non Grata’ and given a week to leave India.
“India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad… The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions,” Misri said.
World leaders express support “Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many governments around the world,” Misri said.
Analyst Michael Kugelman said the attack posed a “very serious risk of a new crisis between India and Pakistan and probably the most serious risk of a crisis since the brief military conflict that happened in 2019.”
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