New Delhi [India]: India has summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and handed over a formal Persona Non Grata notice for military diplomats, sources confirmed on Wednesday. This move follows the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. The attack, which targeted tourists in Pahalgam’s Anantnag district, has turned the once serene location into a site of mourning.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which lasted over two hours. The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) briefed the media on the series of measures that were announced following the terrorist attack. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined five major decisions that the CCS had taken to address the situation.
Misri said, “The Defence/Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.”
In addition, the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Misri added, “Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025.”
The CCS also decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”
Furthermore, Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Misri stated, “Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.”
Misri also noted that the overall strength of the High Commissions will be reduced, with further reductions to take place by May 1, 2025, bringing the total strength down from 55 to 30.
In his briefing, Misri emphasized that the CCS had reviewed the security situation in detail, directing all forces to maintain heightened vigilance. He also stated, “It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.”