New Delhi [India], April 24 (HBTV): The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday announced a series of measures following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined five key decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

Misri said that the Defence, Naval and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and have one week to leave India. India will also withdraw its Defence, Navy and Air Advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad, annulling these posts. Five support staff of the service advisors will be withdrawn from both High Commissions.

He added that the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect, though those who have already crossed with valid endorsements may return via that route before May 1, 2025.

Other CCS measures include placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance “with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross‑border terrorism.”

Misri also announced that Pakistani nationals will no longer be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). All previously issued SVES visas to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled, and any Pakistani national currently in India on an SVES visa must leave within 48 hours.

The overall staffing of both High Commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025.

The CCS reviewed the security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigilance. It resolved that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, killed 25 Indian and 1 Nepali tourist. Security forces have launched search operations to apprehend those responsible.

(ANI)