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Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said India will also withdraw its military attaches from Pakistan and reduce the overall strength of its high commissions by May 1
The decision was announced during a press briefing by the MEA after the CCS chaired by PM Narendra Modi, reviewed the overall security situation in J&K. (Image: PTI)
In view of cross-border links to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, India on Wednesday downgraded its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, including the expulsion of some of its diplomats and said they have a week to leave the country.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said India will also withdraw its military attaches from Pakistan and reduce the overall strength of its high commissions by May 1. He said the Pakistani military attaches have been declared “persona non grata”, or deemed ‘unwelcome’.
“The defence/military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own defence/navy/air advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective high commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the service advisers will also be withdrawn from both high commissions. The overall strength of the high commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1,” he said.
The decision was announced soon after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmed up its responses in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack.
During a press briefing by the ministry of external affairs (MEA), Misri said India also suspended the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
He further said the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, he added.
The foreign secretary said Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and any such visas issued in the past to them are deemed cancelled.
He also said the CCS directed all forces to maintain high vigil and resolved that the perpetrators of the terror attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account. “As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)