New Delhi – A day after 26 people were killed and plenty of others injured in an assault by suspected Pakistan-based militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir, India introduced it should put a key river water sharing settlement on maintain.
India’s Exterior Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday night that the Indus Water Treaty “shall be held in abeyance with speedy impact, till Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its assist for cross-border terrorism.” The suspension of the 1960 World Financial institution-brokered treaty would imply India would cease the water provide of Indus River and its tributaries – the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj – to Pakistan, impacting tens of millions of individuals in that nation
The selections had been taken by India’s Cupboard Committee on Safety, the nation’s prime protection determination making physique headed by the Prime Minister.
Tuesday’s assault in picturesque Pahalgam space of Indian-controlled Kashmir left 26 folks useless – 25 of them vacationers – and 17 others injured, when suspected militants opened hearth on them, based on Indian authorities within the area. Nearly all of the victims had been Hindus.
ANI/Reuters
The brazen assault – one of many worst in Kashmir’s historical past – at considered one of its hottest vacationer spots, dotted with meadows and surrounded by glaciers, has shocked India and been condemned by leaders around the globe.
Indian safety forces unfold out throughout Kashmir a day after the assault, as police, military and paramilitary forces continued their manhunt for the perpetrators. Many companies had been closed Wednesday to protest the brutal assault on civilians, heeding a name from Kashmiri non secular teams and political events.
A lesser-known militant group known as The Resistance Entrance claimed duty for the assault on social media. CBS Information can’t independently confirm the declare. India media shops reported the group was backed by Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
Pakistani nationals requested to depart, visas cancelled
Along with the suspension of the water treaty, India additionally ordered all Pakistani nationals at present within the nation to depart inside 48 hours and gave every week to the Army Advisors within the Pakistani Excessive Fee in New Delhi to exit India. India stated it should additionally recall its personal navy advisors from Islamabad.
“These posts within the respective Excessive Commissions are deemed annulled,” stated an Indian Exterior Affairs Ministry assertion. The ministry stated each the excessive commissions shall be down-staffed from present 55 to 30.
India has additionally determined to shut the Built-in Test Put up Attari, a key street hyperlink between the 2 nations.
“Those that have crossed over with legitimate endorsements could return via that route earlier than 01 Might 2025,” the ministry stated in a press release.
The Kashmir battle
Kashmir is claimed in full by each India and Pakistan, however every nation has managed its personal portion of the mountainous area for many years.
The scenic Himalayan area has been hit frequently by militant violence since an armed anti-Indian insurgency started in 1989. The simmering battle has claimed tens of hundreds of lives over greater than three many years.
TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP through Getty Photos 
Tuesday’s assault on the common vacationer magnificence spot got here when tourism within the Kashmir area was selecting up. The last major attack occurred in June 2024, when 9 folks had been killed and 33 injured as militants attacked a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims.
Eight pilgrims had been killed and 19 injured in the same assault within the area in 2017, when militants attacked a bus carrying them again from the well-known Amarnath Cave Temple in south Kashmir.
Widespread condemnation
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged his assist for India after the lethal assault.
“Deeply disturbing information out of Kashmir,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “America stands robust with India towards Terrorism.”
The assault got here as U.S. Vice President JD Vance, alongside together with his spouse Usha and their kids, paid a largely personal visit to India. Vance met earlier within the week with India’s chief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Usha Vance is a training Hindu whose dad and mom are from India.
“I strongly condemn the fear assault in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those that have misplaced their family members. I pray that the injured get well on the earliest,” Prime Minister Modi said in a social media put up on Tuesday. “These behind this heinous act shall be dropped at justice… they won’t be spared! Their evil agenda won’t ever succeed. Our resolve to battle terrorism is unshakable and it’ll get even stronger.”
Leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, France, Italy and the UAE have additionally expressed condemnation.
