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 Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," he said.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 10:36 AM IST
#WATCH | #PahalgamTerrorAttack | Jammu | BJP leader Ravinder Raina says, "... The Pahalgam terrorist attack is a murder of humanity. Kashmir has been bled, and Pakistan and these terrorists will have to pay a heavy price for this crime... The blood of innocents that has been shed… pic.twitter.com/Jd7u5byAti
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025 - 23 April 2025 10:35 AM IST
#WATCH | #PahalgamTerrorAttack | Doda, J&K | SSP Sandeep Mehta says, "After yesterday's event, we have made tight security arrangements... Since emotions are running high in the wake of the incident, I request everyone to think carefully before saying anything. Communal feelings… pic.twitter.com/SOpioLhWh3
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025 - 23 April 2025 10:29 AM IST
#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, in Srinagar, J&K pic.twitter.com/tPRSj4ewUg
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025 - 23 April 2025 10:03 AM IST
Terrorists targeted male tourists after asking their religion, says survivor
The daughter of a businessman from Pune killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam has claimed that terrorists specifically targeted male tourists after asking them to identify their religion.
Two businessmen from Maharashtra's Pune, Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote, sustained gunshot wounds in the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday and later succumbed, officials said.
Terrorists struck at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 persons, mostly tourists, and injuring several others, according to officials.
The deceased included two foreigners -- from the UAE and Nepal -- and two locals, they said.
Jagdale was part of a five-member group, which also included his wife Pragati, daughter Asavari, Kaustubh Ganbote and Sangita Ganbote, who travelled to Pahalgam on Tuesday.
Asavari, 26, a human resource professional in Pune, told PTI that her father and uncle were shot by terrorists while they were at a stop, called 'mini Switzerland' in Betaab Valley.
“There were several tourists around, but the terrorists specifically targeted male tourists after asking whether they were Hindu or Muslim,” she said.
The family was on a vacation at the idyllic spot when they heard firing from "people who wore clothes similar to those of local police" descending from the nearby hill.
"We immediately rushed to a nearby tent for protection. So did six to seven others (tourists). We all lay down on the ground as protection against the firing which we then assumed was between the terrorists and security personnel," Asavari said.
She said the group of terrorists first came to a nearby tent and opened fire.
"Then they came to our tent and asked my father to come out," she said.
"They said 'Chaudhari tu bahar aa ja'," Asavari said.
The terrorists then 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.
"They then asked my father to recite an Islamic verse (probably the Kalma). When he failed to do so, they pumped three bullets into him, one on the head, one behind the ear and another in the back," she said.
"My uncle was next to me. The terrorists fired four to five bullets into him. They shot several other males who were at the spot. There was nobody to help. No police or army, who reached 20 minutes later. Even the locals there were reciting the Islamic verse," she said.
Asavari, her mother and another female relative were spared, and locals and security forces evacuated them to Pahalgam Club.
"The people who took us to the spot on ponies helped us -- three women, including myself and my mother -- make the return journey. Later we underwent medical examination to check for injuries and were then shifted to Pahalgam Club," she said.
"After the firing started, we ran along with other tourists. Later, the Indian Army reached the spot and rescued us,” she added.
- 23 April 2025 9:48 AM IST
UN Secretary General Guterres strongly condemns Pahalgam attack
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the “armed attack” in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the armed attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April, in which at least 28 people were killed,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said.
Guterres offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. “The Secretary-General stresses attacks against civilians are unacceptable under any circumstances,” Dujarric said.
- 23 April 2025 9:39 AM IST
Govt asks airlines to ensure no surge in Srinagar airfares
Civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to ensure there is no surge in airfares on the Srinagar route and airlines will also be operating additional flights to the city.
Terrorists struck at a prime tourist location in Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Tuesday, killing at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and injuring several others.
Air India and IndiGo will operate a total of four additional flights from Srinagar to the national capital and Mumbai on Wednesday. Airlines have also waived ticket rescheduling and cancellation charges.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held an urgent meeting with all airline operators and issued a strong advisory against surge pricing on the Srinagar route.
Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time, an official release said on Wednesday.
- 23 April 2025 9:24 AM IST
Bodies brought to Srinagar, Shah to lay wreaths on coffins
The bodies of victims killed in the gruesome terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday were brought to Srinagar on Wednesday, where authorities will hold a wreath laying ceremony at the police control room, officials said.
"We have received 26 bodies which were brought to the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar in the wee hours (of Wednesday). The bodies will be moved to the police control room (PCR)," an official said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached Srinagar on Wednesday night, is expected to lay wreaths on the coffins of the victims at a ceremony at the PCR later on Wednesday.
