In April 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which is the highest decision-making body on national security in India, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has taken series of strict actions against Pakistan after terror attack that killed 26 people including a foreign national in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
- Following the CCS meeting held in New Delhi (Delhi), the Government of India (GoI) has implemented a 5-point action plan which will impact Pakistan’s infrastructure, diplomatic presence, and movement across borders.
Note: The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
About India’s 5-Point Action Plan:
1.Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty:
GoI has decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), a key water-sharing agreement between Indian and Pakistan, with immediate effect. This suspension will remain in effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
About IWT:
i.IWT was brokered by Washington DC (the United States of America, USA)-based World Bank (WB) on September 19, 1960, which was signed by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, former PM of India and Ayub Khan, former President of Pakistan in Karachi, Pakistan.
ii.The treaty governs the distribution of 6 rivers namely, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus of Indus basin between two countries.
iii.As per the treaty, India got control over 3 eastern rivers of the Indus basin: Ravi, Beas and Sutlej while, Pakistan got control over 3 western rivers: Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
2.Closure of the Attari-Wagah Border:
The government has also decided to close the integrated Attari-Wagah Border, international border between India and Pakistan, located near the towns of Attari, Amritsar, Punjab (India) and Wagah (Pakistan), with immediate effect.
- With this, all cross-border movement through this route is halted for an indefinite period of time.
i.The government has clarified that individuals who have already crossed over with valid documents will be allowed to return that route before May 01, 2025.
ii.The Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) is the sole land route facilitating trade between India and Pakistan.
3.Cancellation of SVES for Pakistan Nationals:
The GoI has announced the suspension of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals. It has further mentioned that any SVES visa issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled.
- Also, any Pakistan national currently in India under this scheme, has 48 hours (2 days) to leave the country.
About SVES:
i.This idea was conceptualized during the 4th SAARC Summit held in 1988 in Islamabad (Pakistan), where leaders agreed that certain categories of individuals like: government dignitaries, parliamentarians, judges, senior officials, among others, should be permitted to travel within SAARC countries with usual visa requirements.
ii.SVES was launched in 1992, aimed to promote regional integration and people-to-people contact among its member states such as: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan.
iii.Under this scheme, special visa stickers are issued to individuals which remained valid for a period of 1 year. These stickers allowed them the right to travel among SAARC countries visa-free.
4.Expulsion of Pakistani Military Advisors:
All Pakistani military, Naval and Air advisors stationed at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi (Delhi) have been expelled. Also, GoI has declared these personnel ‘Persona Non Grata’ and they have been asked to leave India within one week.
- Simultaneously, India will withdraw its own military advisors stationed at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan.
5.Reduction of Diplomatic Personnel:
The GoI has announced the reduction in the overall strength of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad (Pakistan), from current 55 to 30 by May 01, 2025.
Recent Related News:
In January 2025, CCS chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the project to procure over Rs 10,000 crore worth of ammunition for the Indian Army (IA)’s Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher Systems (MBRLs). The ammunition under this project will be manufactured domestically to meet requirements of IA over the next 10 years.
