New Delhi, April 23, 2025 — In a bold response to a devastating militant attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India has suspended the historic Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and ordered the expulsion of Pakistani military advisors from its capital. The decisions, announced late Wednesday, follow a high-level security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday in the picturesque Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 26 people, including 24 Indian tourists, one Nepali citizen, and a local guide. Seventeen others were injured in what authorities have described as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the region since 2000. A group identifying itself as The Resistance Front reportedly claimed responsibility, though Indian officials have yet to confirm the perpetrators’ identity.
Sweeping Diplomatic Measures
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media after the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, outlining a series of unprecedented steps. “The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan takes verifiable steps to end its support for cross-border terrorism,” Misri stated. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the sharing of six Himalayan rivers between India and Pakistan since 1960, surviving decades of conflict.
In addition, India has closed the Attari-Wagah border crossing, a vital link for trade and civilian travel, effective immediately. Pakistani nationals currently in India have been given 48 hours to leave, and new entry under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme has been banned. Misri also declared Pakistani military, naval, and air advisors at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, ordering their departure within a week. India will reciprocally withdraw its own military advisors from Islamabad.
To further downgrade diplomatic ties, India has demanded that Pakistan reduce its High Commission staff in New Delhi from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025. “These measures reflect the gravity of the situation and our resolve to hold accountable those who sponsor terror,” Misri said, declining to take questions.
The Pahalgam Attack
The assault in Pahalgam, a scenic destination 90 km south of Srinagar, unfolded in broad daylight, sending shockwaves across India. Gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists, killing indiscriminately. Among the victims was a recently married Indian Navy officer, whose wife was seen pleading for help in a widely circulated video. The attack has sparked outrage, with protests erupting in Jammu and calls for retaliation growing on social media.
Indian security forces have launched a massive manhunt, deploying hundreds of personnel to comb the forested hills around Pahalgam. In a separate incident, the army reported neutralizing two suspected militants in the Uri sector, though it remains unclear if they were connected to the attack. The National Investigation Agency has dispatched a team to assist local police, and authorities have begun questioning suspected sympathizers.
Leadership Response
Prime Minister Modi, who cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to address the crisis, condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” and vowed a strong response. “The perpetrators and their sponsors will face justice,” he said in a statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that India’s retaliation would extend to “planners on our soil and beyond.” Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site and met with survivors, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman returned early from an overseas trip to join the emergency deliberations.
Implications of Treaty Suspension
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is a particularly significant move, given its role as a rare symbol of cooperation between India and Pakistan. The treaty allocates the waters of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers to India, while Pakistan controls the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. By halting the flow of these waters, India could severely impact Pakistan’s agriculture and water supply, which rely heavily on the Indus basin.
Analysts warn that the decision could exacerbate tensions in an already volatile region. “This is a high-stakes escalation,” said Dr. Anita Sharma, a South Asia expert at the Delhi Policy Institute. “While the treaty’s suspension sends a strong message, it risks further destabilizing bilateral relations and could have humanitarian consequences downstream.”
Regional and International Reactions
The attack has drawn condemnation from regional leaders, with Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference supporting a local shutdown to protest the violence. An all-party meeting is scheduled for Thursday to discuss the crisis. Internationally, the timing of the attack—coinciding with a visit by US Vice-President JD Vance—has raised questions about its broader geopolitical implications.
As India mourns the victims of the Pahalgam tragedy, the government’s decisive actions signal a new chapter in its approach to cross-border security. With diplomatic channels narrowing and the Indus waters in limbo, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether these measures lead to de-escalation or further confrontation
