Pahalgam terror attack: "Final answer yet to be given," says Defence Expert, a day after India suspends Indus Water Treaty

A day after the Union government took a series of steps including the suspension of the Indus-Water Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terrror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and injured many more, Defence Expert Shiwalee Deshpande said that the final answer is yet to be given and that is going to be letal.

"These are only diplomatic steps that our country, the final retribution, the final answer is yet to be given and that is going to be lethal, that is going to be something that Pakistan is never going to forget. So there are certain diplomatic steps like closing down the Attari border, also people who have gone to Pakistan should come back by May 1..." Deshpande told in Nagpur on Thursday.

She echoed the sentiments of the country and said, "After the horrible attack in Pahalgam, the entire country wants retribution and the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) also cut short his visit (from Saudi Arabia) and a high level delegation meeting was held. What does our country want? The citizens of the country want? They want certain strong answers, and they want that Pakistan should also bleed and pay in the same tone or rather a greater tone due to the terrorism in Pakistan," she said.

A day after the terror attack, India on Wednesday announced a series of steps to give a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, stating that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance and the integrated checkpost at Attari will be closed with immediate effect.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed a special press conference after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security and said Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa Exemption scheme.

The CCS meeting, which lasted over two hours, was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata, and they have a week to leave India.

He said the overall strength of the High Commissions will be reduced to 30 from the current 55 through further reductions, to be implemented by May 1, 2025.

"Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided upon the following measures: The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. The integrated checkpost Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025," Misri said.

"Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa Exemption scheme. Any SPES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SPES visa has 48 hours to leave India. 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," he added.

He said 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," Misri said.

Misri said the CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.

"As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible," he said.

Misri said that in the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out.

The attack, carried out by terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday, is one of the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.