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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Live Updates
- 25 April 2025 8:28 AM GMT
Amit Shah urges CMs to identify Pakistani nationals in their states
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is holding discussions with all the chief ministers on the Pahalgam terror attack asking them to identify all Pakistan nationals in their respective states. He also urged them to ensure their prompt return to Pakistan, official sources said.
- 25 April 2025 8:25 AM GMT
Pahalgam terror attack: Terrorists struck India's soul says Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
Condoling the deaths of the victims of Pahalgam terror attack, Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said inhuman elements struck at the soul of India without realising that the country rises even faster when challenged.
Speaking at a Telecom Engineering Centre event on Quantum Technology, Scindia said India will respond to the terrorists and their backers under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has said that those responsible for the terrorist attack and their conspirators will be punished "beyond their imagination”.
Scindia said that the incident at Pahalgam was a cowardly heinous attack by inhuman elements that claimed innocent lives.
"Those inhumans struck at the soul of our country. But they do not realize that India rises even faster and higher when challenged at this very core," he said after paying condolences to the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
"India will rise... I am confident and I think we all are confident that we the people of India stand united across every state, across every faith and with one voice and we will answer these elements with the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Scindia said.
- 25 April 2025 8:21 AM GMT
Pahalgam terror attavk : It is an act against humanity says Darul Uloom Deoband
Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, prominent Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband on Friday termed it as an "act against humanity". Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, the 'mohtamim' (manager) of Darul Uloom Deoband, demanded stringent action against those responsible for the attack.
Stating that the attack posed a "grave threat to the unity and integrity of the country", Nomani said, "Our condolences are with the families of the deceased, and we pray that those who were injured recover soon." Urging the Centre to treat the matter with utmost seriousness, Nomani emphasised the need for "strict action against the culprits so that such incidents do not recur in future".
Describing the attack as an "act against humanity", he highlighted the "barbarity of the terrorists" in targeting unarmed tourists. "Darul Uloom shares the grief of the bereaved families," he said.
Both factions of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind have also condemned the Pahalgam attack. "Those who kill innocent people are not humans but beasts. There is no scope for terrorism in Islam," Jamiat president Maulana Arshad Madani said.
- 25 April 2025 8:16 AM GMT
Milind Deora takes swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) over absence from all party meeting
Taking a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT), Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Friday targeted them over the absence of its legislators at the all-party meeting the Centre convened on the Pahalgam terror attack, saying that it was shameful but expected.
"Shameful but expected, not a single UBT MP turned up for the all-party meeting on the #Pahalgam terror attack. When the nation needs one voice on security, those who bark into mics daily suddenly fall silent," Deora posted on X.
Party leader Arvind Sawant wrote to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju ahead of the all-party meeting called by the government on the attack, as he informed him about his and Sanjay Raut’s inability to attend it.
Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant had written to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju ahead of the all-party meeting called by the government on the attack on Thursday and informed him about his and Sanjay Raut's inability to attend it.
Raut is a Rajya Sabha MP of the party. He said both of them were on an official tour as members of parliamentary committees.
Sawant, the party’s leader in Lok Sabha, shared the text of his communication with Rijiju and later provided a revised version.
- 25 April 2025 8:14 AM GMT
Kapil Sibal urges PM to call special session of Parliament
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a special session of Parliament and pass a resolution condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and conveying the message to the world that the country is united.
Sibal also suggested to the government to send out delegations of the ruling and Opposition MPs to various important countries so that diplomatic pressure can be created on Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference, Sibal suggested that like the US does with its sanctions, India should tell all major nations who have trade with Pakistan that they cannot come to our market if they have trade with Islamabad.
"In 1972, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said, 'we will bleed India with a thousand cuts'. Following that, terror attacks have taken place in Parliament in 2001, Kaluchak massacre in 2002, Indian Institute of Science was attacked in 2005, Mumbai train bombings in July 2006, Mumbai attack in 2008, Pathankot airbase attack in 2016, Uri terror strike in 2016 and Pulwama suicide bombings in 2019, this continues," he said.
