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By Gabe Whisnant and Danish Manzoor Bhat
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India has suspended its Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and taken other measures against its nuclear-armed neighbor following the killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in what India described as a terrorist attack.
The government said the suspension of the treaty, which guides cooperation on cross-border rivers, will remain in effect until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism."
India also said it would revoke specific visa privileges for Pakistani nationals and expelled some diplomats after the attack in the scenic picnic spot which also left at least 17 people wounded.
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Why It Matters
The attack and the subsequent measures taken by India mark a big setback in the relationship between the neighbors, which have clashed in the past over mountainous Kashmir, a region which both countries control in part and claim in its entirety.
What To Know
India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri said Tuesday, "Recognizing the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided upon the following measures - The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism."
Other measures included the closure of a border checkpoint, a ban on Pakistani nationals traveling to India under a visa exemption scheme and the removal of military, defense, naval and air advisors at Pakistan's embassy in New Delhi. India said it would do likewise. Numbers at the diplomatic missions would be cut from 55 to 30, India announced.
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Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif convened the National Security Committee to respond.
Pakistan's foreign ministry had earlier expressed convern over the killings in what it described as "Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir", saying "We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery."
Pakistan has consistently denied Indian accusations of supporting terrorism, but has previously expressed sympathy for Muslim groups fighting Indian rule.
The killing of the tourists was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which said it was acting to counter settlement by Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir.
Authorities in India have released sketches of the suspected attackers and launched a manhunt.
"India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible," the government said.
There has been widespread international condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, with strong statements of solidarity with India from the United States, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, among others.
What Happens Next
The attack is certain to be a major setback in the relationship with Pakistan and likely to marked by severe strain for some time to come even if does not reach the level of a more dramatic confrontation.
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Updated on 04/23/2025 at 12:59 p.m. ET with additional details and Pakistan meeting to discuss response
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