Pahalgam attack: Won't allow single drop of water to flow into Pak: Centre
The government plans to strengthen existing dams and build infrastructure to better manage India’s own water needs, especially in border states like Punjab and J&K
India on Thursday (April 25) informed Pakistan of its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance with immediate effect, saying Pakistan has breached conditions of the treaty. The letter came in response to the deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists were killed by terrorists.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack on tourists. Rahul, who earlier interacted with the injured tourists at the Army hospital in Srinagar, met Abdullah at his residence, officials said.
In Delhi, popular shopping hubs like Connaught Place, Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk were among the more than 900 markets that wore a deserted look on Friday as traders observed a 'Delhi Bandh' to protest against the Pahalgam terror attack.
Various merchant associations from sectors such as textiles, spices, utensils, and bullion also kept their shutters down.
Water treaty
Sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting Jammu and Kashmir impedes India's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty, India's Secretary of Water Resources Debashree Mukherjee said in a letter addressed to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza.
"The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," the letter read. "The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India's full utilisation of its rights under the treaty," the letter said.
On Thursday, the Centre also convened an all-party meeting where it briefed leaders about the attack and heard their views.
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- 25 April 2025 1:54 PM GMT
Silent prayers in Kashmir mosques in homage to Pahalgam victims
Muslims across Kashmir on Friday observed a minute's silence in mosques, where they gathered to offer prayers, as a mark of respect to the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
During the Friday sermons, Imams and scholars in major mosques of the Valley condemned the April 22 attack and prayed for the injured.
Muslims who gathered in the mosques observed a minute's silence to pay respects to the victims and express solidarity with them.
The Imams termed the attack unacceptable and said the people of Kashmir share the grief of the affected families and stand with them.
Such acts are against humanity and Islamic teachings, they said.
At many places, people also held protests after the prayers, raised slogans against the attack and demanded that the perpetrators be punished.
In Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta here, Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the attack has left people's hearts bleeding.
"The manner in which the carnage was carried out -- more than two dozen people killed after ascertaining their identities and in front of their families -- is shocking and chilling beyond belief," he said while addressing the Friday congregation.
By observing a complete shutdown and holding spontaneous protests, the people of Kashmir have sent a strong message of their total disapproval of such actions and their solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved, he added.
- 25 April 2025 1:52 PM GMT
Indigo cancels Almaty, Tashkent flights temporarily due to Pakistan airspace curbs
IndiGo on Friday said it will temporarily cancel flights to Almaty and Tashkent due to aircraft operational range constraints in the wake of the Pakistan airspace closure.
The airspace closure has forced Indian airlines operating flights to the West to take longer routes and narrow-body planes might not operate non-stop for long duration. IndiGo operates Airbus narrow-body aircraft to Almaty and Tashkent.
The airline said that around 50 international routes operated by it will require longer sectors and hence may be subject to some slight schedule adjustments.
"With the same restrictions and limited rerouting options, unfortunately Almaty and Tashkent are outside the operational range of IndiGo's current fleet," it said in a statement.
Flights to Almaty stand cancelled from April 27 until at least May 7 and to Tashkent from April 28 until May 7.
"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers and assure them that we're looking at all options to minimise disruptions," the statement said.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan due to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Thursday barred Indian airlines from using its airspace. The airspace cannot be used by India-registered aircraft as well as planes owned or leased by Indian operators.
- 25 April 2025 1:50 PM GMT
Indus Water Treaty most unfair to people of J &K : CM Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan that has been put in abeyance by the Centre in the wake of the Pahalgam attack was the "most unfair document" to the people of the Union territory and they have never been in favour of it.
"Government of India has taken some steps. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, let's be honest we have never been in favour of the Indus Water Treaty," Abdullah told reporters here after a meeting with various tourism, trade and industry bodies.
In the aftermath of the attack in which 26 people were killed, India on Wednesday 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.
Asked about the Centre's decision on IWT, Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir has always believed that the IWT has been the "most unfair document to its people".
"Now what the medium to long-term implications to this are, that is something we have to wait to see," he added.
To a question whether the government would reward the bravery of 'ponywallah' Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who sto
- 25 April 2025 1:40 PM GMT
Muslims in Assam protest against Pahalgam attack
After offering 'Jummah namaz', Muslim people across Assam on Friday condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators of the crime.
The protests were held outside mosques at several places in the state.
They univocally condemned the heinous attack on innocent people, mostly tourists, and shouted slogans against the crime.
"We condemned the incident. Islam does not speak for terrorism, it is a religion of peace-loving people. Terrorists do not have any religion," said Liyaqat Ali at Bada Masjid in Silchar of Cachar district.
People also showed placards and shouted slogans like "Pakistan murdabad", "down with terrorism", and "start a war against Pakistan", among others.
Assam Assembly's former Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar said, "Our words fall short compared to what the terrorists have done. We condemn it in the strongest possible manner and urge the Indian government to take appropriate action." People also came out in large numbers in different mosques across Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Barpeta and Nalbari districts and denounced the violence in Pahalgam.
- 25 April 2025 1:37 PM GMT
Pahalgam attack : Odisha prepares to deport Pakistanis
In the wake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's direction to all states to identify and deport Pakistani nationals, the Odisha government on Friday started the process of deporting Pakistanis residing in the state, a top police official said.
The direction came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists, including one from Odisha, were gunned down on April 22.
"So far, 12 Pakistani nationals have been identified staying in Odisha either on long-term visas (LTVs) or short-term visas (STVs) in different districts," DGP YB Khurania said.
SPs have been directed to ensure the deportation of the Pakistani nationals from their jurisdiction, he added.
"They will have to leave the country within 48 hours of receiving the notices," Khurania added, noting that the order applies both to those with valid visas and to those whose visas have expired and are awaiting extension.
Shah dialled the chief ministers of all the states and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline set for for leaving the country, sources said.
India on Thursday announced revoking all visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 27 and advised Indian nationals residing in the neighbouring country to return home at the earliest.
"Our CM has assured full cooperation to the Centre in this regard and the state Home Department has initiated steps to implement the order," a senior officer said.
- 25 April 2025 1:32 PM GMT
A friend in need: Kashmiriyat lives on as locals shield tourists from harm
A pony 'wallah' who laid down his life trying to save visitors to his homeland, a guide who rescued a family of 11 and countless locals are among those who added another dimension to Kashmir’s hospitality when terror struck struck Pahalgam on a calm Tuesday afternoon.
In what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019, terrorists opened fire in Baisaran, a popular tourist spot in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly holidayers from other states.
As tourists and families of victims from across the country reached home from Kashmir and outrage spread, stories of locals helping those who were stuck in the terrifying ordeal flooded in. Kashmir, their stories told the world, was also about those who had saved their lives and extended a helping hand in times of their greatest crisis.
When the initial list of victims was made public, Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s was the only name of a local. The story of his bravery made thousands, including Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, attend his funeral on Wednesday in Pahalgam’s Hapatnard village.
As the families of Kaustubh Ganbote and Santosh Jagdale, two of the victims, stood face to face with the armed terrorists, the 30-year-old pony 'wallah' confronted them asking why they were killing innocent people.
In a courageous attempt to protect the tourist, the young man tried to snatch away the weapon. Shah succumbed to three bullets to the chest.
Asavari Jagdale, who lost her father Santosh Jagdale and uncle Kaustubh Ganbote, recalled being helped by another pony rider as they escaped the mayhem.
“I gathered courage and managed to escape with my mother and aunt. While coming down, my mother suffered leg injuries. A pony rider offered us support and hope. He gave us a pony ride to our driver," Asavari, who had travelled from Pune, recounted.
She added that her cab driver and pony ride operator were “like angels sent from God who stood by her at the time of the attack”.
“The pony ride operator did not leave us behind, he was with us. He rescued my aunt, mother and me from the spot," she told PTI.
The cab driver remained in touch even after she left Srinagar and “offered to help in every possible way”.
“He asked us to tell him any help we need, whether it was money. He is a driver who still wants to help us. He was crying on the call and also when I was leaving from Srinagar. I thanked him, I told him that because of his presence I did not feel lonely. He cried saying that he is sad for my loss. They were like angels sent by God." Nazakat Ahmed Shah, a cousin of Shah, was also at the venue of the massacre and was instrumental in saving the lives of 11 tourists, including three children.
