India on Wednesday delivered a major diplomatic offensive on Pakistan as its response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.
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00:00Let's go straight now to the Ministry of External Affairs briefing which is taking place as we speak
00:05to listen in to India's formal response. Ministry of External Affairs, I would also like to let you
00:12know that we have pressing engagements following this press briefing so we'll not be in a position
00:18to take questions from you. We can do that subsequently. With that I give the floor to
00:24Foreign Secretary. Sir, over to you. Thank you, Randeer. Good evening. Thank you
00:32all for your patience and for joining at this relatively late hour. I have some prepared
00:41remarks that I'll share with you and as Randeer said, due to some preoccupations I will not
00:48be able to take questions tonight. The Cabinet Committee on Security met this evening under
00:56the chairmanship of the Honorable Prime Minister. The CCS was briefed in detail on the terrorist
01:04attack on 22nd April 2025 in Pahlkam in Jammu and Kashmir in which 25 Indians and one Nepali
01:13citizen were killed. A number of others sustained injuries. The CCS condemned the attack in the
01:22strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for
01:30the early recovery of the injured. Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from
01:39many governments around the world which have unequivocally condemned this terror attack.
01:46The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments which reflect zero tolerance for terrorism.
01:56In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out.
02:03It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of the elections in the Union
02:11territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.
02:21Recognizing the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the CCS decided upon the following measures.
02:281. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan
02:40credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
02:462. The integrated checkpost Atari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over
02:55with valid endorsements may return through that route before 1 May 2025.
03:023. Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SARC visa exemption scheme visas.
03:13Any SVAS visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled.
03:204. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVAS visa has 48 hours to leave India.
03:294. The defence, military, naval and air advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared
03:37persona non grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own defence,
03:45Navy, naval and air advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
03:505. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled.
03:555. Support staff of the service advisers will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
04:045. The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55
04:13through further reductions to be effected by 1st May 2025.
04:20The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil.
04:30It resolved that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice
04:35and their sponsors held to account. As with the recent extradition of Tahavur Rana,
04:44India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror
04:50or conspired to hold them, to make them possible. Thank you very much.
04:55Thank you ladies and gentlemen. With that we come to the closure of this press briefing.