Key Points
- India suspends the Indus Waters Treaty, closes the Attari border, and cancels Pakistani visas after the Pahalgam massacre that killed 26, mostly Hindu tourists.
- All Pakistani nationals in India ordered to leave within 48 hours; diplomatic missions downsized.
- Pakistan retaliates by closing airspace to Indian flights, suspending visas for Indians, and expelling Indian diplomats.
- Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif calls India’s actions an “act of war” and threatens retaliation, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warns of “all-out war” between nuclear powers.
- Global condemnation pours in; UN Security Council and US leaders back India’s call for justice.
- Investigation reveals the attack was religiously motivated, with Lashkar-e-Taiba links and support from Pakistan-based groups.
Islamabad: India has launched a sweeping diplomatic and economic offensive against Pakistan in response to the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 Hindu tourists were killed in one of the deadliest assaults in the region in decades. The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front-a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot-has triggered a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
India’s Swift and Stringent Measures
In the wake of the massacre, the Indian government enacted a series of unprecedented measures:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: For the first time since its signing in 1960, India has suspended its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty, halting water-sharing arrangements that are vital for Pakistan’s agriculture and daily life. This move is seen as a direct response to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism, as cited by Indian officials.
- Border Closure and Visa Cancellations: India has closed the Attari-Wagah border, cancelled all existing visas for Pakistani citizens, and ordered them to leave the country within 48 hours. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistanis stands suspended, and diplomatic staff in both countries are being drastically reduced.
- Expulsion of Diplomats: India has declared Pakistani military, naval, and air advisors persona non grata, giving them and support staff a week to leave the country. The strength of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi will be reduced to 30 by May 1, 2025.
Pakistan’s Retaliation and Escalating Rhetoric
Pakistan has responded by:
- Closing Airspace and Suspending Visas: Islamabad has blocked its airspace to Indian flights, suspended all visas for Indian citizens, and expelled several Indian diplomats.
- Threats of War: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called India’s actions “an act of war,” warning that Pakistan’s 240 million people would “fight for water” if the Indus flow is stopped. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has openly warned of the risk of “all-out war” between the two nuclear-armed states, urging the world to take note of the escalating crisis.
- Suspension of Trade: Pakistan has also suspended all trade with India, including transit through third countries, and closed the Wagah border for all cross-border movement.
Global Reaction and Calls for Justice
The international community has strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack:
- The UN Security Council issued a rare, unanimous statement demanding that the perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of the attack be brought to justice, underlining the need for accountability.
- The US government and other world leaders have expressed solidarity with India, with President Trump and US intelligence officials pledging support in pursuing the attackers.
- India has shared technical intelligence and credible evidence with international partners, pointing to Pakistan-based involvement in the attack.
Details of the Pahalgam Attack and Investigation
The attack in Baisaran Valley targeted tourists, with terrorists reportedly confirming the faith of their victims before executing them at close range-25 of the 26 killed were Hindus. Indian authorities have identified three of the four assailants, two of whom are Pakistani nationals linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. A massive manhunt is underway, with over 70 suspected overground workers being interrogated in Jammu & Kashmir.
What’s Next?
With both sides taking hardline stances, experts warn that the risk of escalation is real. India’s government has vowed to “identify, track, and punish” every terrorist and their backers, promising action “beyond their imagination”[9][18]. Pakistan’s leadership, meanwhile, insists on its readiness for “any misadventure” and calls India’s water and border moves a provocation for war.
“Any effort to halt or redirect the water flow owed to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty will be treated as a declaration of war, and we will respond with full force across the entire spectrum of our national capabilities,” Pakistan’s government declared after a National Security Committee meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The Pahalgam massacre has triggered the most severe India-Pakistan standoff in years, with India suspending key treaties, closing borders, and expelling Pakistanis, while Pakistan threatens war and blocks Indian access. As global powers urge restraint and justice, the region stands on edge, awaiting the next move in this high-stakes confrontation.
