Pahalgam terror attack: All-party meeting begins in Parliament with 2-minute silence - top developments

NEW DELHI: India took raft of diplomatic measures against Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism after a brutal attack on Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. Pakistan responded with blocking airspace for Indian airlines and closing Wagah border.

India accused Islamabad of supporting cross-border terrorism and suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, shut the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect, and halted Pakistani access to travel under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Any such visas issued earlier have been cancelled, and Pakistani nationals under SVES have 48 hours to leave.

Here are the top developments
All Pakistan nationals ordered to leave India within 72 hrs

The government on Thursday suspended all kinds of visas for Pakistani nationals and asked them to leave the country by April 27. However, the medical visas will be valid for an additional two days and will stand revoked on April 29. "In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack , the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect," the ministry of external affairs said.

Pakistan cancels visas for Indian nationals, suspends trade, closes airspace

Pakistan imposed multiple retaliatory measures, including cancellation of visas for Indian nationals, closure of airspace to Indian airlines, and suspension of all trade relations following India's decision to halt visas for Pakistani nationals after a deadly attack in Kashmir.

Pakistan suspends 1972 Simla agreement that established LOC

“Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir,” the Pakistani PM office said in a statement, according to Dawn.

All-party meeting begins in Parliament with 2-minute silence

All-party meeting to address the Pulwama attack began in Parliament on Thursday in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar. Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, who cut short his US trip, was also present in attendance along with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had earlier complained about not receiving an invite.

Encounter with terrorists in Uddhampur, one soldier killed

Security forces engaged in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. As per officials, the soldier suffered grievous injuries in the initial exchange and later succumbed to injuries.

'Every drop is ours by right': Pakistan reacts to suspension of Indus Waters Treaty by India

Pakistan's power minister Sardar Awais Leghari on Thursday reacted to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India. Leghari said that the decision was taken in "haste" and said that the "consequences amounts to water warfare.” “India’s reckless suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is an act of water warfare; a cowardly, illegal move. Every drop is ours by right and we will defend it with full force — legally, politically and globally," he said in statement, as reported by local media.

Pakistan govt's X handle withheld

Indian government on Thursday withheld the official account of government of Pakistan on X.


India hands over expulsion note to top Pakistan diplomat

India summoned Pakistan's top diplomat Saad Ahmad Warraich late at night and handed over the formal Persona non grata note for its military diplomats following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 28 innocent lives, including 26 Indians and two foreign tourists, news agency ANI reported citing sources.

India had last downgraded diplomatic ties in 2020 by reducing the mission strength to half of what it was earlier.

Earlier, defence minister Rajnath Singh had assured the nation of a "loud and clear" response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 28 people, mostly tourists.

Rs 20 lakh reward announced for info on terrorists

The Anantnag Police has announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh for any information leading to the neutralisation of terrorists involved in this cowardly attack.

Rahul Gandhi cuts short his US visit

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday after cutting short his visit to the US in the aftermath of the terror attack. Rahul will attend the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, at around 10.30 am.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X and said, "Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi has cut short his US visit and will be attending in person the CWC meeting in New Delhi tomorrow at 10:30 am."

Airlines operate 59 flights from Srinagar; airfares kept at reasonable levels

Airlines operated 59 flights from Srinagar, including seven additional services, to ferry tourists and bodies of 25 Pahalgam terror attack victims to their destinations along with 123 accompanying family members.

The civil aviation ministry said air ticket prices on the route were being kept at reasonable levels amid a large number of tourists looking to return from Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the terror attack, the deadliest in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama incident.