India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty, Expels Pakistani Officials Following Pahalgam Terror Attack
New Delhi, The Gulf Observer: In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic tensions, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), that claimed the lives of 26 tourists and injured 17 others.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the move during a press briefing on Wednesday, following a high-level emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision marks a major departure from decades of water cooperation between the two countries, even during periods of heightened military and political tension.
“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,” Misri stated. He declined to take questions from the media but outlined a series of swift and unprecedented actions in response to the attack.
As part of the broader measures, India has shut down the Attari-Wagah border crossing—a vital link for trade and civilian travel between the two nations. Additionally, Pakistani nationals have been banned from entering India, and those currently residing in the country have been instructed to leave within 48 hours.
The Indian government also ordered the expulsion of all Pakistani military advisors stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, including representatives from the army, air force, and navy. Simultaneously, India will recall its three military service advisors and five auxiliary staff members from its High Commission in Islamabad.
Further downgrading diplomatic ties, India has requested that Pakistan reduce its diplomatic staff presence in New Delhi from 55 to 30.
The sweeping decisions come in the wake of Tuesday’s attack in the popular tourist town of Pahalgam, located 90 kilometers from Srinagar. Gunmen opened fire on a group of visitors, triggering widespread panic and a major security response. Among the deceased were Indian nationals from various states and a visitor from Nepal. One of the victims was a serving Indian Navy officer.
Indian security forces have launched an extensive manhunt, deploying hundreds of personnel and utilizing military helicopters to track down the assailants in the forested region. Authorities have also detained several individuals for questioning.
In a separate incident, Indian forces reported killing two suspected militants in the Uri sector. A group claiming to be “The Resistance Front” has allegedly taken responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, though this has yet to be independently verified by officials.
Prime Minister Modi strongly condemned the assault, calling it a “heinous act” and warning that the perpetrators “will hear our response loud and clear.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also vowed retribution, including action against those “on our land” believed to have facilitated the attack.
The fallout has shaken diplomatic and security circles in New Delhi. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Home Minister Amit Shah have been actively involved in crisis management, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cut short an overseas visit to return to India.
While Indian media and public sentiment have been quick to place blame on Pakistan, no official accusation has yet been leveled by the Indian government against Islamabad. However, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a landmark agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960—signals a deepening rupture in bilateral ties.
