By Soumya Ranjan 
India has expelled all Pakistani nationals in the country under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, as well as Pakistan’s military attachés stationed there, as part of a series of actions announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Given cross-border ties to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured numerous others, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday decided to remove India’s military attachés from its High Commission in Islamabad, dealing a severe blow to Pakistan.
Along with all Pakistani nationals in the country under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), India has also expelled Pakistan’s military attachés stationed in India as part of a series of actions announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Wednesday evening chairing of a CCS meeting at his home in New Delhi, these decisions were taken. The CCS has also taken steps to reduce the strength of its High Commissions in Islamabad, close the Integrated Attari Check Post, and suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
Residents of Pakistan have 48 hours to depart India
Removing the SVES visas granted to Pakistani nationals and limiting their ability to enter India in the future were two of the actions taken by the CCS. “Nationals of Pakistan will not be able to enter India using SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any previous SVES visas granted to citizens of Pakistan are considered revoked. Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, Misri stated that any Pakistani national who is presently in India on an SVES visa has 48 hours to depart the country.
#WATCH | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided upon the following measures- The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/PxEPrrK1G8
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025
Pakistani military personnel have been given a week to depart
In addition to deciding to expel all Pakistani military attachés from India and give them a week to depart, the CCS acknowledged the gravity of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Additionally, India has made the decision to cut back on the number of employees at its High Commissions in Pakistan.
“The Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has proclaimed its Defence/Military, Naval, and Air Advisors Persona Non Grata. They have one week to get out of India. India will remove its own Air, Navy, and Defense Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These positions in the corresponding High Commissions are considered to be canceled. Additionally, Misri stated that five of the Service Advisors’ support staff would be removed from both High Commissions.
By May 1, 2025, he continued, “the High Commissions’ overall strength will be reduced from the current 55 to 30 through further reductions.”
Attari Integrated Check Post closed, Indus Waters Treaty suspended
Misry declared, “Until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably renounces its support for cross-border terrorism, the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect.”
Additionally, the CCS has made the decision to shut down the Integrated Check Post Attari immediately. Before May 1, 2025, “those who have crossed over with legitimate endorsements may return through that route,” Misri stated.
After reviewing the overall security situation, the CCS instructed all forces to remain vigilant. It decided that the attack’s perpetrators would face consequences and their sponsors would be held accountable.
According to a PTI report, the CCS lasted for approximately two and a half hours. Misri stated, “It was observed that this attack followed the Union Territory’s (Jammu and Kashmir) successful elections and its consistent advancement toward economic growth and development.”
He declared, “India will be relentless in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible, as was the case with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana.”
[…] retaliation, Pakistan has also halted all of its trade with […]