Pahalgam Terror Attack
India responds decisively after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives; it summons a Pakistani diplomat and suspends the Indus Treaty and SAARC visa schemes.
NISHA KUMAWAT
Pahalgam Terror Attack, April 24, 2025— The Government of India has issued a stern diplomatic response a day after a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 tourists. On Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and handed over an official note declaring certain Pakistani military diplomats persona non grata.
This move follows a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss the national security situation in the wake of the attack. The targeted strike occurred in Baisaran, popularly known as ‘Mini Switzerland’, and marks one of the most severe terror incidents in the Valley since the Pulwama attack in 2019.
In a series of sharp retaliatory steps, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a long-standing agreement between India and Pakistan governing the distribution of the Indus River waters. Additionally, India has barred Pakistani nationals from traveling under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), further straining diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Pahalgam attack has sent shockwaves across the nation, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. Security forces continue to comb the region for those responsible, as the government vows a decisive and measured response to terror threats emanating from across the border.
