New Delhi: In a strong response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir that killed at least 26 Indian tourists on April 22, India on Wednesday announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan. These include putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, closing the Wagah-Attari border for all movement, cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani citizens, and ordering a significant reduction in diplomatic staff at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lasting over two hours, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the media on the government’s decisions.
“India will not rest until the perpetrators of this heinous attack are brought to justice and their backers are made accountable,” Misri declared. According to Misri, 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 of Jammu and Kashmir and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.
Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the CCS decided upon five measures against Pakistan. “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,” he said.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a landmark water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, that governs the use of water from the Indus River and its tributaries. Signed in Karachi in September 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan, the treaty outlines the rights and responsibilities of both nations concerning the river system.
Under the terms of the treaty, India receives exclusive control over the waters of the eastern rivers—Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej—while Pakistan is granted control over the western rivers—Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum. The treaty establishes a framework for cooperation and information sharing between the two countries to ensure the fair and effective use of these water resources.
The preamble of the treaty emphasises the mutual rights and obligations of both nations to utilise the waters of the Indus system optimally, in a spirit of goodwill, friendship, and cooperation. While India is permitted limited use of the western rivers for irrigation, it has unrestricted rights for non-consumptive uses such as hydroelectric power generation, navigation, floating of property, and fishery activities.
To implement and monitor the treaty, the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was formed, consisting of one commissioner from each country. The Commission is mandated to meet at least once annually to review the treaty’s implementation and address any emerging concerns. It conducts inspections, tours river systems, facilitates the exchange of hydrological data, and ensures transparency and compliance. The PIC acts as the first forum for resolving disputes, aiming to settle disagreements through bilateral dialogue. If unresolved, matters can be escalated to a neutral expert or an arbitration court.
Secondly, Misri said, 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,” the Foreign Secretary stated. "Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) 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 Attari-Wagah border, situated between Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan, serves as a significant land crossing point for both civilians and tourists. The daily ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony is a major attraction, drawing substantial crowds. During weekdays, approximately 15,000 visitors attend the ceremony each day. On weekends and national holidays, attendance can surge to around 25,000 spectators.
Beyond tourism, the Attari-Wagah border facilitates civilian crossings between India and Pakistan. According to Government of India figures, there was a total of 71,563 passenger movements across this border in 2023-24.
The border also plays a role in trade between the two nations, albeit limited. The Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) is the only land route for trade between India and Pakistan. According to the Land Ports Authority of India, total trade across this crossing touched Rs 3,886.53 crore in 2023-24.
Trade volumes have fluctuated over the years, influenced by bilateral relations and policy decisions. The CCS also declared the military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata.
“They have a week to leave India,” Misri said. "India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy, and 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."
And then, what can be seen as a significant cutdown on diplomatic ties between the two South Asian neighbours, the overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, effective from May 1, 2025.
To sum up, India has opted for a bold recalibration of its Pakistan policy after the Pahalgam terror attack, taking unprecedented steps to isolate Islamabad diplomatically and economically. By suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and halting cross-border people-to-people links, New Delhi is signalling that state-sponsored terror will now carry tangible consequences.
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