New Delhi, April 24 (NVI) Hostility is growing between India and Pakistan as outrage over the Pahalgam carnage continues across the country, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promise punishment to “every terrorist, their handlers and their backers” through measures that would be “beyond their imagination”.
The hostilities between the two neighbours were being witnessed in the diplomatic sphere, with India last night announcing certain measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty (IWT), and Pakistan responding today by several measures, including closure of its airspace for Indian flights and stoppage of trade.
Pakistan also said it will not recognise the Simla Agreement of 1972 while claiming that suspension of the Indus Water Treaty amounted to an “act of war”.
Meanwhile, India started steps to stop flow of water of three common rivers — Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — over which Pakistan has full claim under the IWT.
Under the 1960 Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, India has control over the remaining three common rivers of the Indus basin — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
There is persisting anger across India that Pakistan should be held accountable for the gruesome massacre of 26 people, including 25 tourists, in Pahalgam by three terrorists having linkages across the border.
Reflecting the anger, Prime Minister Modi said the act by the terrorists was an attack on the “soul of India” and “every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done”.
Addressing a pre-scheduled public event in Madhubani in Bihar, he underlined that “Terrorism will not go unpunished…. The entire nation is firm in this resolve” and thanked leaders of various countries for standing with India “in these times”.
Modi said, “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism.”
He said the punishment would be “beyond their imagination”, in a message seen as a clear warning to the terrorist commanders and Pakistani military which nurtures the terrorists.
Significantly, he spoke some crucial sentences of warning in English, apparently to send out a message to the world at large about his government’s intentions.
Earlier, last night, his government announced 5 measures to hit Pakistan. Besides deciding to suspend the IWT, the Indian government announced suspension of all visas for the Pakistani nationals and closure of the Wagah-Attari border.
Scaling down of the diplomatic mission staff of both the countries and expulsion of military attaches of Pakistan and withdrawal of its own in Islamabad were among other decisions taken after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) yesterday.
The Pakistan government, after a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by all-powerful Army Chief General Asim Munir, warned that suspension of IWT will be considered as “an act of war”.
It announced closure of its airspace for all Indian-owned and operated flights with immediate effect and non-recognition of the Simla Agreement of 1972 under which, besides other things, the Line of Control (LoC) was recognised bilaterally as a de-facto border.
Pakistan also decided to suspend all forms of trade with India, including those routed through third countries.
It also announced certain decisions mirroring those of the Indian government, like closure of the Wagah border, scaling down of the diplomatic mission staff to 30 members effective April 30 and expulsion of military attaches.
It also said that Pakistan would respond to India’s “hostile actions with full national strength”.
The other measures announced by India include the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari as well as the issuance of a deadline for Pakistanis to leave the country before May 1, 2025.
Also, Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are now deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India. (NVI)
