The Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday that India has decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack.
This decision was made during the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting. Moreover, the CCS resolved to shut down the Atari-Wagah border check post and declared military advisors to Pakistan’s High Commission as persona non grata. India also revoked all visas issued to Pakistani citizens under the SAARC visa scheme.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi, cutting short his Saudi Arabia trip due to the attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Upon arrival, he held a brief meeting at the airport with NSA Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
The attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley claimed the lives of 26 tourists when unidentified gunmen opened fire on civilians. The area, often referred to as ‘mini Switzerland’ for its lush green meadows, became the site of a tragic incident around 3 PM. Security forces were deployed immediately, and an operation is underway.
Authorities used helicopters to evacuate the injured, while locals assisted by transporting victims on ponies. This attack comes amid a surge in tourism in Kashmir and ahead of the 38-day Amarnath pilgrimage set to begin on July 3.
