TLDR:
• India suspends Indus Waters Treaty
• Attari-Wagah border closed indefinitely
• Pakistani nationals ordered to leave India
NEW DELHI (The Thursday Times) — In a sweeping escalation following the Pahalgam incident, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari-Wagah border, and ordered Pakistani nationals to exit the country within 48 hours.
India has placed the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) in abeyance with immediate effect and has closed the Atari Integrated Check Post. All travel by Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme is suspended, and all previously issued visas are cancelled. Pakistani… pic.twitter.com/8SmIzAibO3
— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) April 23, 2025
Indus Waters Treaty suspended
India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, halting the flow of water from the Indus River and its tributaries—Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to Pakistan. This move is expected to have significant implications for Pakistan’s agriculture and water supply.
Attari-Wagah border closed
The Integrated Check Post at the Attari-Wagah border has been closed with immediate effect, effectively suspending overland movement between the two countries. Pakistani nationals who have entered India with valid endorsements are permitted to return through this route before May 1, 2025.
Visa restrictions and diplomatic measures
India has suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals. All previously issued visas under this scheme are deemed canceled. Pakistani citizens currently in India on such visas are instructed to leave the country within 48 hours.
Additionally, India has declared the Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata, granting them a week to depart. India will reciprocally withdraw its own military advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Both nations will reduce their high commission staff strength to 30.
