India Closes Attari-Wagah Border After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Quick Summary:

• India has shut the Attari-Wagah border following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced immediate closure of the integrated checkpost at Attari, allowing those who have already crossed to return before May 1, 2025.
• The Wagah-Attari border near Amritsar served as a symbolic and practical point for trade and passenger exchanges between India and Pakistan but is now severed.
• The Modi government also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan dismantles terror networks on its soil.
• SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals has been revoked; existing visa holders must leave India within 48 hours.
• Pakistani military personnel posted at their New Delhi High Commission are declared persona non grata and ordered to exit within one week. India reciprocates by withdrawing its military advisors from Islamabad’s High Commission.
• These measures indicate India’s intensified stance against Pakistan after heightened cross-border tensions.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

India’s steps post-Pahalgam attack reflect a significant pivot towards tougher diplomatic and strategic posturing against Pakistan. Shutting down the Attari-Wagah border-a symbol of fragile bilateral ties-marks an escalation with both practical and symbolic repercussions, severing an avenue for people-to-people interaction. Additionally, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty signals dire consequences if terrorism isn’t addressed.The move may force a recalibration in regional diplomacy while amplifying pressure on Islamabad to act decisively regarding terror networks operating from its territory.

Diplomatic isolation through visa bans and expulsion of military attaches further underscores India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism originating across the border. For pragmatic reasons, these measures could limit direct engagement opportunities but are clearly intended as deterrence against future attacks while addressing domestic public demands for accountability after loss of civilian lives.The combined actions challenge longstanding norms in Indo-Pak relations but raise questions about long-term peace prospects given strained trust on both sides.

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