Pakistan has also suspended all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals and has deemed them cancelled with immediate effect. The press release instructs Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES to exit within 48 hours.
Earlier, Dawn reported that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, while speaking to a private television channel late on Wednesday, lashed out at India’s approach, calling it “immature” and “hasty”.
Diplomatic observers warn that the Indian response and Pakistan’s counter-messaging could push bilateral relations to new lows, further widening a rift that has persisted since the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis.
The treaty suspension, in particular, risks sparking long-term water disputes, while the downgrading of diplomatic ties could hinder any future de-escalation efforts, Dawn reported.
A day after the Pahalgam attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met in New Delhi on Wednesday evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and firmed up the responses to the terror attack.
The CCS also decided to close the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect. Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), and any such visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled, it was announced.
(With inputs from PTI)
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