Pahalgam Terror Attack: After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri gave information about the decisions taken in the CCS meeting.
Many top officials including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present in the meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence.
Indus Water Treaty suspended
Many important decisions were taken in this meeting, in which the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan was suspended. Along with this, it has also been decided to close the Attari border.
India has decided to suspend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan with immediate effect. This decision will remain in force until Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism in a credible manner.
Attari Check Post will be closed
India has also decided to close the Attari Integrated Check Post with immediate effect. The government has said that those who have come here on the basis of valid documents can go back through this route before May 1, 2025.
Pakistani visa issued under SVES cancelled
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that now Pakistani citizens will not be able to travel to India on the basis of visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Visas previously issued to Pakistani citizens under SVES will be considered cancelled. All Pakistani citizens who are in India under SVES will have to leave India within 48 hours.
High Commission staff to be reduced
The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Force advisors of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata. They have been given a week's time to leave India. India is also recalling the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Force advisors of its High Commission in Islamabad. These posts will be considered abolished in both the High Commissions. Five support staff of these military advisors will also be withdrawn from both the High Commissions.
The number of employees in the High Commissions will be gradually reduced from 55 to 30. This decision will come into effect from May 1, 2025.
The CCS reviewed the security situation in the country and asked the security forces to be very vigilant. It was said in the meeting that strict action will be taken against those who plotted the Pahalgam attack.
It was said that just like Tahawwur Rana was brought to India, those who carry out extremist activities against India will not be spared.
What did the former Pakistani minister say on India's decisions?
PTI leader and former Pakistan Information and Technology Minister Chaudhury Fawad Hussain has said that under international laws, India cannot stop the Indian Basin Treaty (Indus Water Treaty). Doing so would be a gross violation of the law related to the treaty.
He wrote on social media, "This childish decision will affect the poor farmers of Punjab and Sindh."