India sees Pak link in Pahalgam attack, cuts ties

Retaliating to the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam, India tonight suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and said it would be “unrelenting in the pursuit” of those who had committed acts of terror or conspired to make these possible.

New Delhi will also close, with immediate effect, the integrated check-post (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah border crossing between the two countries. It also decided to scale down the strength of the High Commission in Pakistan to just 30 by May 1. At present, there are 55 persons. Three Pakistan military attaches in New Delhi have been declared as persona non grata.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the decisions, which were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Misri said, “Those (Pakistan nationals) who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through the ICP before May 1.”

Cracking down on Pakistan, Misri said, “The Indus Waters Treaty will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism.”

Signed in 1960, the Treaty is vital as it allocates the waters of the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi for 100 per cent use by India. Across these rivers are large storage dams like the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar in India. Three other rivers — the Indus, the Jhelum and the Chenab — are for 100 per cent use by Pakistan. On these rivers, India can only use the “run-off the river” to generate power and not store water.

Sources said India was not withdrawing from the Treaty but had suspended it, meaning “we need not adhere to the terms of the Treaty”.

With India having little capacity to store the water of these rivers, Pakistan may not be immediately impacted, but in the long term, India can build large storage dams on these rivers. The Indus and the two tributaries of the Chenab — the Chandra and the Bhaga — have the potential for hydro power. Pakistan relies majorly on the water of these three rivers for its irrigation needs.

The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. Misri said, “It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.”

As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror or conspired to make them possible, the Foreign Secretary said.

Hours before the CCS meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the country that the perpetrators would receive a befitting response in the near future. Hinting that India could take on Pakistan for this terror attack, the minister, without naming the neighbouring country, said, “We will not stop at those who carried out this attack. We will reach those sitting behind the scenes to conspire and carry out such nefarious acts on Indian soil”.

Meanwhile, the CCS was briefed on the terrorist attack and its cross-border linkages. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the union territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

Misri said Pakistani nationals would not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. Any visas under the scheme issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under such a visa has 48 hours to leave the country.

The military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India.

India will be withdrawing its defence advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective high commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the service advisers will also be withdrawn from both high commissions.

The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured.

Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned the terror attack. The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, which reflected zero tolerance to terrorism, Misri said.

India