New Delhi, April 24, 2025 — In a powerful diplomatic and strategic response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India has suspended the landmark Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and shut down the Attari-Wagah border crossing, signaling India’s decisive action against cross-border terror.
The unprecedented decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after intelligence and security briefings revealed direct cross-border linkages to the attack that killed 26 civilians, including one foreign national, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Speaking to the press, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced, “This attack came in the backdrop of successful democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir and its progress towards stability. The CCS has responded with urgency and clarity.”
Effective immediately, all water flow agreements under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty — covering major rivers like the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — will be suspended. The move marks a sharp departure from decades of diplomatic restraint and is part of India’s decisive action against cross-border terror.
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The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, had survived three wars between India and Pakistan, but the Pahalgam tragedy appears to have ended its legacy. Water Resources Minister CR Paatil termed the decision “necessary and overdue,” asserting that “this sends a clear message — terror and diplomacy cannot coexist.”
In tandem, India has:
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Closed the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post, effective immediately. Pakistani nationals with valid entry are required to return by May 1.
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Cancelled all SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas for Pakistani citizens. Those already in India have 48 hours to exit.
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Expelled military advisers from the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, declaring them persona non grata. Indian defence attaches will also be withdrawn from Islamabad.
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Ordered diplomatic downsizing, cutting High Commission staff from 55 to 30 by May 1.
These actions form the backbone of India’s decisive action against cross-border terror, showcasing a new doctrine of strategic retaliation not only against perpetrators but also their state sponsors.
The CCS also directed all security forces to remain on maximum alert, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy against any threat to national integrity. “Our pursuit of justice will be relentless,” Misri added, referencing recent successes such as the extradition of Tahawwur Rana.
Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who had issued prior warnings over Pakistan’s proxy war through terror, were reportedly instrumental in shaping this strong retaliation.
As India shifts gear from diplomacy to deterrence, India’s decisive action against cross-border terror has not only redrawn the red lines of bilateral conduct but may also redefine South Asia’s water and security politics in the months ahead.
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