Pahalgam terror attack LIVE: India suspends Indus Water Treaty
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says that those responsible for the “cowardly terrorist attack” on innocent citizens will soon get a strong response
India on Wednesday (April 23) suspended the Indus Water Treaty and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including expulsion of its military attaches in view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met this evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and firmed up the responses to the terror attack.
The CCS decided that 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, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a media briefing.
Orders closure of Attari Border
The Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect, he said.
Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, he said.
Misri said, "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 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. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.
"The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1," he said.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that those responsible for the “cowardly terrorist attack” on innocent citizens will soon get a “strong response” to their nefarious acts on Indian soil.
Singh, while vowing a befitting reply, also said India will not only hunt down the people who perpetrated the attack but will also trace those “sitting behind the scenes” who had conspired to carry out the deadly act on Indian soil.
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Live Updates
- 23 April 2025 8:13 AM GMT
J-K security discussed in meet chaired by Rajnath
In a meeting chaired by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in which National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh were also present, along with other officials, all issues related to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed. The issue is expected to be discussed in further detail in the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting likely to be held today. - 23 April 2025 7:18 AM GMT
Security agencies release sketches of three men
Security agencies on Wednesday released the sketches of three men suspected to be involved in the terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, near Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
The men are Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, officials said. The three terrorists also had code names -- Moosa, Yunus and Asif -- and were involved in terror related incidents in Poonch.
The sketches were prepared with the help of survivors, they said.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday afternoon.
- 23 April 2025 7:09 AM GMT
Andhra CM expected to receive Pahalgam terror attack victim's body in Vizag
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to receive the mortal remains of JS Chandra Mouli, a Pahalgam terror attack victim, at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, official sources said.
Mouli was one of the 26 people shot dead at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday.
"CM Naidu will collect the mortal remains of JS Chandra Mouli and will meet his family members at Visakhapatnam airport,” the sources told PTI.
However, the time of receiving the body is yet to be confirmed, they said.
The CM returned to the state after a five-day European holiday, followed by busy meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday.
- 23 April 2025 7:05 AM GMT
Bharat will not bend to terror: Amit Shah
With a heavy heart, paid last respects to the deceased of the Pahalgam terror attack. Bharat will not bend to terror. The culprits of this dastardly terror attack will not be spared. pic.twitter.com/bFxb2nDT4H
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2025 - 23 April 2025 7:02 AM GMT
Three from Bengal died in Pahalgam terror attack, grim hour for state: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday confirmed that three persons from the state were killed in the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead.
Describing it to be a "grim hour" for the state, Banerjee said that her government was making all the arrangements to get family members of the victims back home from New Delhi and she was personally overseeing it.
"As per the latest updated information made available to us, three persons from our state have died in the most unfortunate Kashmir violence," Banerjee said in a post on X.
The three deceased are Bitan Adhikari of Baishnabghata in Kolkata, Samir Guha of Sakher Bazar in Kolkata and Manish Ranjan of Jhalda in Purulia district.
"All arrangements are being put up by our administration at Delhi Airport to help the family members of the victims and their onward journey to Kolkata. Flight is likely to arrive in Kolkata at 8.30 pm today," she said.
The resident commissioner's office in Delhi is in touch with the family members, the chief minister said.
- 23 April 2025 7:00 AM GMT
Pahalgam terror attack: Janasena to observe three-day mourning
The Janasena Party on Wednesday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were brutally killed and the party chief Pawan Kalyan announced a three-day mourning across the state.
Janasena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed deep grief over the attack. He announced a three-day mourning on behalf of the party across Andhra Pradesh and directed that the party flags be flown at half-mast, according to a party statement.
Candlelight vigils will be held across the state, every evening during these three days, the statement added.
"Terrorism has no place in a civil society. We stand united and resolved in grief," Pawan Kalyan stated, calling the attack inhuman and intolerable.
On Friday, human chains will be formed in protest against terrorism, expressing solidarity with victims and reaffirming Jana Sena’s commitment to peace, the statement added.
- 23 April 2025 6:59 AM GMT
Punjab CM Mann calls high-level security meeting
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called a high-level security meeting on Wednesday to take stock of security arrangements in the state in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's official residence, in which top officers of the police and civil administration are expected to be present, sources said.
After the terror attack in neighbouring J-K, Punjab is maintaining a high alert, the sources said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mann had said, "the cowardly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and condemnable".
"Targeting unarmed innocents is an attack on humanity. The whole country is united in this hour of grief, our condolences are with the victim families and we strongly condemn every form of terrorism," Mann had said in a post in Hindi on X.
