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 Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.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 10:50 AM IST
Navy officer among those killed in Pahalgam terror attack
Married just a few days ago, 26-year-old Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal was holidaying with his wife in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam when terrorists shot him dead.
Hailing from Bhusli village in Karnal district, Narwal's family was presently living in Karnal city.
The Indian Navy also confirmed Narwal's death in the terror attack. "Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, and all Personnel of the Indian Navy are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Lt Vinay Narwal who fell to the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this moment of unimaginable grief.
"The #IndianNavy also stands in solemn solidarity with all others that lost their lives in this heinous act of violence.Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families and we pray for the swift recovery of those injured," the Navy said in a post on X.
Narwal's neighbour Naresh Bansal said the officer had recently got married.
"After the marriage, everyone was celebrating and in a happy mood. And now suddenly this sad news comes," he said about the terror attack incident.
Another neighbour Seema recalled that there were grand celebrations at his home and not just the Narwal family, but the entire neighbourhood was celebrating after the wedding.
She told reporters in Karnal that Narwal did his engineering and later cleared the exams to became an officer in the Indian Navy.
"They were planning a honeymoon in Switzerland, but decided to go to Kashmir instead taking into account the leave he had...We can't imagine what his family is going through," she said.
"....We saw videos where a girl was crying and pleading with the terrorists to kill her too but they told her they were sparing her so that she can tell (PM Narendra) Modi what happened," she said without elaborating.
- 23 April 2025 10:49 AM IST
Western Army commander reviews operational preparedness of troops in Kathua
Army’s Western Commander, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, on Wednesday visited forward areas of Kathua to review the operational preparedness of the forces in the border district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Lt Gen Katiyar’s visit to the forward areas and hinterland in Kathua comes against the backdrop of continued operations following several encounters with terrorists in March and April this year, during which three terrorists and four policemen were killed.
"Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, Army Commander, Western Command, reviewed the operational preparedness of Rising Star Corps and visited forward areas in Bani-Machhedi in Kathua," the Western Command said on X.
He commended the troops for their unwavering steadfastness and exceptional professionalism in ensuring security and readiness.
Parts of Jammu and the twin border districts of Kathua and Samba fall under the operational command of 9 Corps and Western Command.
- 23 April 2025 10:47 AM IST
Spine-chilling accounts from Pahalwama
Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture of gunfire breaking the calm of a regular Tuesday afternoon with scores of people enjoying their day out. Cries for help were heard as lifeless bodies lay motionless in pools of blood.
Some put the number of attackers at five and claimed that they were dressed as security personnel.
"My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack," a woman survivor told PTI over phone.
Pune businessman Santosh Jagdale, 54, was asked to come out of his tent and recite an Islamic verse. When he couldn't, he was shot thrice: once in the head, then behind the ear and then his back, his daughter Asavari Jagdale told PTI.
After her father fell to the ground, the gunmen turned on her uncle who was lying next to her and shot him several times in the back.
Asavari, 26, said she does not know if her father and uncle are alive or among the dead. She, her mother and another female relative were spared, and locals and security forces evacuated them to Pahalgam Club where they remain clueless about the fate of the two men.
The terrorists blamed them for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after which they made some statements to deny that Kashmiri militants kill innocent people, women and children, she said.
- 23 April 2025 10:47 AM IST
TRF claims responsibility, anti-terrorist op launched
As news of the terror attack targeting tourists in Kashmir spread, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, claimed responsibility.
Officials said it was possible the terror group members could have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Various organisations and parties in Jammu and Kashmir called for a bandh on Wednesday against the terror attack in the volatile Kashmir Valley where tourists have so far mostly been spared.
Army, CRPF and local police rushed to Baisaran, much sought after by filmmakers in the 1980s, after initial news came in of gunshots being heard, officials said.
Operations launched
A massive anti-terrorist operation has been launched to hunt down the assailants and security forces have fanned out in all directions, they said.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration set up 24X7 emergency control rooms in Anantnag and Srinagar.
"I'm shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased," Abdullah said on X.
The office of Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said anti-terror operations had been launched to neutralise terrorists.
"Entire nation is angry & blood of our forces is boiling. I want to assure the nation that perpetrators of Pahalgam attack will have to pay a very heavy price for their heinous act. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families,” it said on X.
- 23 April 2025 10:46 AM IST
Amit Shah at incident spot
Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rushed to Srinagar in the evening where he took stock of the security situation.
"I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” the prime minister said on X.
"Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger," he added.
US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were among world leaders who condemned the terror attack and expressed solidarity with India.
- 23 April 2025 10:45 AM IST
Attacked Pahalwama tourists were from several states
Among the dead were tourists from several states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. At least one person from Gujarat, three from Tamil Nadu and two from Maharashtra were among the injured.
The attack, which comes as US Vice President J D Vance is visiting India and just as the tourist and trekking season is picking up momentum, took place around 3 pm in Baisaran, about six kilometres from the resort town of Pahalgam.
Massacre at ‘mini Switzerland’
It is an expansive meadow ringed by dense pine forests and mountains and a favourite with visitors from across the country and the world.
Terrorists came into the grassland, dubbed 'mini Switzerland', and started firing at tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking, officials and eyewitnesses said.
- 23 April 2025 10:40 AM IST
Sibal urges home minister to proscribe Pakistan as a terrorist state
#WATCH | Delhi | On Pahalgam terrorist attack, Senior advocate Kapil Sibal says, "Those responsible for this should be prosecuted in the international court. I urge the Home Minister to proscribe Pakistan as a terrorist state and move the International Criminal Court. I am sure… pic.twitter.com/eYHdRnUHRy
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025
