The Indian government has proposed a number of strict measures aimed at Pakistani nationals and bilateral agreements with Pakistan in response to the recent terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
The suspension of Pakistani nationals’ access to the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) is the most urgent and significant measure. This decision was made at a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and during which the cross-border connections of the attack were thoroughly examined.
The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme no longer allows Pakistani nationals to enter India, according to the latest directive. All SVES visas that were previously granted to citizens of Pakistan have been deemed void. Any Pakistani who is in India with an SVES visa has 48 hours to depart the nation.
Established in 1992, the SVES was created to make it easier for certain groups of people to travel between SAARC member states without requiring standard visas. These groups include dignitaries, judges, lawmakers, senior officials, businesses, journalists, and athletes. Pakistanis are no longer eligible for this privilege as a result of this suspension.
Along with the visa restrictions, India has taken additional actions to demonstrate its firm stance:
Until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty is on hold. This action suspends a crucial water-sharing pact between the two nations.
A significant land border crossing between India and Pakistan, the Integrated Check Post at Attari, has been shut down. Pakistanis with legitimate endorsements who entered India through this way are permitted to return before May 1.
Advisors in charge of defense, military, naval, and aviation at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been told to leave India within a week after being deemed “persona non grata.” At the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, India will remove its own advisors in return. Five support personnel from both missions will also be removed.
By May 1, the combined strength of the High Commissions of both nations will be lowered from 55 to 30, significantly restricting diplomatic interaction.
India’s determination to show zero tolerance for terrorism and to punish those guilty for cross-border attacks accountable is reflected in these actions. “These actions are part of a larger strategy to ensure national security and to send a clear message regarding the consequences of supporting terrorism,” the government stressed.
