Pahalgam attack LIVE: Congress holds emergency CWC meeting
Indian govt firms up five specific retaliatory measures against Pakistan, directs security forces to maintain high vigil and vows to bring perpetrators to justice
India on Wednesday (April 23) downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post in view of the cross-border links to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Cabinet committee meet
A day after the brazen attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firmed up five specific retaliatory measures against Pakistan, directed the security forces to maintain "high vigil" and vowed to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.
At a late evening media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, announcing the decisions, said the overall strength of the Pakistani and Indian high commissions will be reduced to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1. He said Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES) and any Pakistani national currently in India under it SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.
Cross-border linkages
Misri said the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam attack were "brought out" in a briefing to the CCS following which it decided to take the measures against Pakistan.
The foreign secretary said that "the defence, military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata" and they have a week to leave India.
India will be withdrawing its own defence, navy and air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, he said.
The foreign secretary said the CCS resolved that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack would be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.
Will hunt down perpetrators: Rajnath
Hours before the CCS meeting, Defence Minister Singh said people responsible for the "cowardly terrorist attack" on innocent citizens will soon get a befitting reply to their nefarious acts on Indian soil.
Singh also said India will not only hunt down those who perpetrated the attack,Pahalgam attack LIVE: India suspends Indus Water Treaty with Pak, closes Attari border
In view of cross-border linkages to the attack, India firmed up five specific retaliatory measures against Pakistan, directed security forces to maintain "high vigil" and vowed to bring perpetrators to justice.
but it will also trace the people who conspired to carry out the nefarious act on Indian soil while "sitting behind the scenes".
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Live Updates
- 24 April 2025 11:23 AM GMT
JD-U's priority is the PM: Congress' jab at Nitish over skipping all party meeting
Taking potshots at JD(U) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the party's decision to skip the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam attack due to prior engagements, Congress on Thursday said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority is elections, JD-U's priority is the PM, and so the meeting on the terror strike can wait.
The grand old party's swipe came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), a key BJP ally, said it has extended full support to the Centre on its response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
While the party's leaders will not be able to attend the all-party meeting due to prior engagements, JD-U spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said, "We stand with each and every decision of the government." Reacting to the development, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Prime Minister's priority is elections. JDU’s priority is Prime Minister. All party meeting on terror attack can wait." The Centre will brief leaders of various political parties on the Pahalgam terror attack and hear their views at an all-party meeting to be held on Thursday evening.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to brief the leaders, official sources said. Singh will chair the meeting.
- 24 April 2025 11:16 AM GMT
Pahalgam terror attack : US issues 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Jammu & Kashmir
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 tourists dead, US on Wednesday has issued a 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Jammu and Kashmir owing to the “terror attacks” and possible “violent civilian unrest” in the Union Territory and also within 10 kms of the India-Pakistan border.
“Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Do not travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. It also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam,” the US Department of State's updated travel advisory for US citizens said.
It also asked its citizens to avoid going within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border “due to the potential for armed conflict.” India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and announced downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including expulsion of its military attaches, in view of the cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack.
- 24 April 2025 11:07 AM GMT
Pakistan 'rejects' Indian decision to suspend Indus Water Treaty
Pakistan 'rejects' Indian decision to suspend Indus Water Treaty after Pahalgam terror attack, says it's lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis
- 24 April 2025 10:38 AM GMT
Pakistan behind Pahalgam terror attack, BJP exploiting tragedy : Congress
The Congress on Thursday said the that Pahalgam attack was masterminded by Pakistan and is a direct assault on the values of the Indian republic. However, it also accused the BJP of exploiting the tragedy to promote discord and polarisation at a time unity is the need of the hour.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC), chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, asserted that it is imperative that a comprehensive analysis is conducted into the intelligence failures and security lapses that enabled such an attack in a Union Territory, which is directly under the purview of the Union Home Ministry.
Reading out the resolution at a press conference, party general secretary K C Venugopal, along with Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, said the deliberate targeting of Hindus was done to inflame passions across the country.
"This cowardly and calculated act of terror, masterminded by Pakistan, is a direct assault on the values of our Republic. The deliberate targeting of Hindus was done to inflame passions across the country. We appeal for calm in the face of this grave provocation and reaffirm our collective strength in the face of adversity," the resolution said.
"However, it is shocking that the BJP is exploiting this grave tragedy through official and proxy social media platforms to sow further discord, mistrust, polarisation and division at a time when unity and solidarity are most needed," it added.
- 24 April 2025 10:30 AM GMT
Police told to keep an eye on overstaying nationals in Karnataka: Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that he has instructed policeto remain vigilant about foreign nationals overstaying in the state.
His comments come against the backdrop of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam that left at least 26 people dead on Tuesday.
"I have told the police to remain cautious," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question about surveillance on foreign nationals overstaying in the state. Speaking on the terror incident, he said the attack was condemnable, heinous, and inhuman.
- 24 April 2025 10:23 AM GMT
India revokes all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals: MEA
In accordance decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025, said the Ministry of External Affairs
Press Release: Decision regarding Visas of Pakistani nationals⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 24, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/FiJbnWE43d - 24 April 2025 10:12 AM GMT
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan: 575 people from Kerala still in Kashmir
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that 575 people from Kerala were still in Kashmir, where a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 claimed 26 lives. He also said that steps have been taken to provide travel, medical assistance and food to those in need. Arrangements, including ticket booking for onward travel, have been made for those arriving in Delhi from Kashmir, the CM said in a statement issued by his office.
"Our grief is doubled by the fact that there is a Keralite among those who lost their lives there. We share in the grief of the relatives of the deceased N Ramachandran," he said.
Terming the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam as one which shocked the conscience of the country, Vijayan said it should not be allowed to happen again as it was an assault on humanity itself.
