New Delhi: In a landmark decision following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has announced the indefinite suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The move, seen as one of the strongest retaliatory measures in recent years, comes in response to the killing of 26 people, including a foreign national, in what the Indian government has termed a cross-border-sponsored terrorist strike.
Announcing the decision at a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated, “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 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the sharing of the Indus river system’s waters for over six decades, with approximately 39 billion cubic meters of water flowing annually from India to Pakistan.
The CCS, India’s apex decision-making body on national security, noted that the terror attack not only targeted civilians but also sought to destabilize the democratic progress and economic development in Jammu & Kashmir. Misri emphasized that the attack came in the backdrop of peaceful elections and a steadily improving economic outlook in the region.
In addition to suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, the CCS announced four more key measures:
- The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari will be shut with immediate effect. Pakistani nationals who entered India with valid documents through this route may return by May 1, 2025.
- Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. All previously issued SVES visas to Pakistani nationals stand cancelled. Those currently in India on SVES visas have 48 hours to leave.
- India has declared all Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata. They are to leave India within a week. In a reciprocal step, India will also withdraw its own defence representatives from its High Commission in Islamabad, effectively annulling these posts and marking a significant downgrade in military-to-military diplomatic channels.
- The total staff strength at both Indian and Pakistani High Commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30, signalling a broader reduction in diplomatic engagement.
The unprecedented actions underline the Indian government’s firm stand on national security and its resolve to counter terrorism originating from across the border. These steps also mark a dramatic shift in bilateral ties, with the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a long-standing symbol of cooperation—even during periods of heightened tension in the past.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens and upholding India’s territorial integrity. Further measures are expected as the situation evolves.
