Following a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people—mostly Indian tourists—India has launched a number of severe punitive actions against Pakistan.
Following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired, the Indian government declared that Pakistani defense, naval, and air force advisers working at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi would be expelled. They were given a week to depart the country.
India would essentially downgrade military diplomatic contacts between the two countries by removing its own defense, navy, and aviation experts from its embassy in Islamabad in retaliation.
The Indus Waters Treaty suspension, the closure of the Attari Integrated Check Post at the India-Pakistan border, the termination of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, and a reduction in the number of diplomatic staff in both countries’ high commissions from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025, are all included in this action, which is a component of a larger five-point plan.
Credible evidence of cross-border connections to the terror attack—one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the Pulwama bombing in 2019—was mentioned by the authorities. In addition, the CCS reiterated India’s resolve to prosecuting the offenders and their backers and ordered the security forces to be on high alert.
The bombing increased tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors and upended the Indian government’s claim that Kashmir had returned to normalcy. The worsening ties were highlighted when Indian officials specifically accused Pakistan of aiding terrorists on Indian territory. India’s zero-tolerance attitude against terrorism and its determination to take immediate action in response to Pakistani threats are reflected in the retaliatory actions, which mark a substantial diplomatic and security escalation.
