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The Pahalgam terror attack, resulting in the tragic deaths of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered a significant escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. In response to this heinous act of terrorism, the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has initiated a series of decisive measures aimed at isolating and punishing Pakistan for its alleged role in orchestrating cross-border terrorism. These actions, spanning diplomatic, economic, and strategic domains, represent a comprehensive effort to counter Pakistan’s long-standing policy of supporting insurgencies and terrorism in the region, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. The Modi administration's response has been swift and forceful, signaling a departure from previous approaches and a determination to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions. The gravity of the situation prompted Prime Minister Modi to cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and convene high-level meetings with key cabinet ministers, including the Home Minister, Defence Minister, National Security Advisor, and External Affairs Minister. These discussions led to the formulation of a multi-pronged strategy designed to exert maximum pressure on Pakistan and deter future acts of aggression. The measures implemented since April 22 reflect a coordinated and deliberate effort to isolate Pakistan on the international stage, weaken its economy, and disrupt its support for terrorist groups. India’s actions are rooted in the conviction that Pakistan has been employing a covert military strategy to destabilize India through sustained proxy warfare, particularly by supporting terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. This strategy, reminiscent of former Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq’s infamous call to “bleed India with a thousand cuts,” has now faced a strong and unified response from the Indian government. The steps taken by India are not merely reactive; they represent a proactive attempt to reshape the geopolitical landscape in the region and establish a new equilibrium in relations with Pakistan. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing, the downgrading of diplomatic ties, and the imposition of economic sanctions are all designed to send a clear message to Islamabad that its support for terrorism will not be tolerated and will have severe consequences. Furthermore, India’s efforts to brief the United Nations Security Council on Pakistan’s role in supporting terrorism underscore its commitment to internationalizing the issue and garnering global support for its actions. By presenting evidence gathered from the Pahalgam attack site and intelligence reports, India aims to build a consensus on the need to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions and to prevent it from continuing to support terrorist activities. The situation is fraught with complexity, given the long history of conflict and mistrust between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations. However, the Modi government's resolute response to the Pahalgam terror attack indicates a willingness to take bold and decisive steps to protect India's national security interests and to deter future acts of terrorism. The long-term implications of these actions remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly mark a significant turning point in the relationship between India and Pakistan and could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability.
One of the most significant measures taken by India is the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. This treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the sharing of water resources from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan for over six decades. The suspension of the treaty represents a dramatic shift in India’s approach to bilateral agreements with Pakistan and signals a willingness to use water as a strategic tool. By halting cooperation on river water management, India aims to exert direct diplomatic pressure on Pakistan and to demonstrate its resolve to take punitive action in response to terrorism. The Indus Waters Treaty has been hailed as one of the most successful examples of water resource management between two countries with a history of conflict. However, India’s decision to suspend the treaty reflects a growing frustration with Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism and a belief that it is no longer tenable to maintain business as usual in the face of such aggression. The closure of the Wagah-Attari border crossing, a major point of trade and civilian transit between India and Pakistan, is another significant measure taken by the Indian government. This closure effectively isolates Pakistan further and underscores India’s unwillingness to continue routine engagement in the face of terrorism. The Wagah-Attari border crossing has been a symbol of people-to-people contact and trade between the two countries, but its closure reflects a hardening of attitudes in India and a determination to cut off all non-essential ties with Pakistan until it ceases its support for terrorism. The downgrading of diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan is another indication of the deteriorating state of relations between the two countries. This includes recalling Indian diplomats, expelling senior Pakistani diplomats, and freezing diplomatic outreach. The downgrading of diplomatic ties reduces the level of official engagement between the two countries and limits opportunities for dialogue and negotiation. It sends a clear message to Pakistan that India is not willing to engage in normal diplomatic relations until it takes concrete steps to address its support for terrorism. The decision to declare several Pakistani military diplomats and intelligence officials persona non grata is a rare and significant move that underscores the depth of distrust between the two countries. These officials have been accused of engaging in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, including espionage. The expulsion of these officials sends a strong message to Pakistan that India is aware of its covert activities and will not tolerate them. The revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals, including those under the SAARC framework, is another measure taken by India to restrict the entry of individuals from Pakistan and to reduce potential security vulnerabilities. This decision disrupts cultural exchanges, academic visits, and business travel, and it is aimed at preventing the infiltration of terrorists or other individuals who may pose a threat to India’s national security. The closure of Indian airspace to Pakistani commercial aircraft is a symbolic and economically significant measure that disrupts Pakistan’s international air connectivity and increases fuel and operational costs for Pakistani airlines. This action sends a clear message to Pakistan that India is willing to take punitive measures that will have a direct impact on its economy and its ability to engage with the rest of the world.
The complete severing of formal trade relations with Pakistan, halting the import and export of goods, represents a significant economic blow to Pakistan. This includes both direct bilateral trade and third-country trade routed through the UAE or Singapore. The move is expected to economically strain certain sectors in Pakistan while reflecting India’s hardened stance against terrorism. The suspension of all maritime shipping routes and logistics operations between India and Pakistan further isolates Pakistan economically. This includes container traffic, cargo ships, and joint maritime arrangements. Ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra that occasionally dealt with Pakistani-origin shipments have been notified. The decision impacts trade, humanitarian shipments, and port revenue but is viewed as a necessary strategic move to isolate Pakistan on multiple economic fronts. The cessation of all postal services with Pakistan, including letters, parcels, and diplomatic pouches, affects civilian communication and interrupts routine diplomatic correspondence. The move is aimed at applying pressure by cutting all non-essential contact points and signaling a total breakdown in bilateral trust following the terror attack in Pahalgam. The initiation of a crackdown on Pakistani-origin digital and broadcast content is an attempt to curb misinformation, incitement, or glorification of terrorism and block narratives that may destabilise internal security or national morale. This includes restricting Pakistani news channels, removing YouTube videos, suspending social media pages linked to Pakistani propaganda, and warning OTT platforms against hosting such content. India’s efforts to brief members of the United Nations Security Council on Pakistan’s support for terrorist networks, excluding China and Pakistan, aim to internationalise the issue and build a consensus on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. India presented evidence gathered from the Pahalgam attack site and intelligence reports to strengthen its case at the global stage. The steps to enhance the storage capacity at two hydroelectric facilities in Kashmir's Himalayan region, operating outside the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty, mark India's first concrete action in this direction. This development underscores India's willingness to assert its rights and interests in the region, even if it means deviating from established norms and agreements. India’s demand to the Asian Development Bank to reduce funding for Pakistan reflects a broader effort to exert economic pressure on Pakistan and to isolate it financially. During the 58th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Milan, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged ADB President Masato Kanda to reduce financial assistance to Pakistan. The ministry of home affairs' directive to several states to conduct civil defence mock drills on May 7 aims to enhance preparedness in the event of a hostile attack. The exercise includes activating air raid warning sirens, training civilians in basic civil defence techniques, implementing crash blackout protocols, camouflaging critical infrastructure, and updating evacuation plans. These measures, taken collectively, represent a comprehensive and forceful response to the Pahalgam terror attack and signal a significant shift in India’s approach to dealing with Pakistan. The long-term implications of these actions remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly mark a critical juncture in the relationship between the two countries and could have far-reaching consequences for regional peace and stability.
Source: Pahalgam terror attack: Steps India has taken to batter Pakistan since April 22