National Times Bureau, April 23, 2025: In response to the brutal terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed and 17 injured, the Indian government has closed the Attari-Wagah border with Pakistan. This decisive step is part of a broader security and diplomatic push following the incident, which was claimed by the militant group “Kashmir Resistance.” The closure, which is indefinite, immediately halts all cross-border movement between India and Pakistan. However, Pakistani nationals who are currently in India with valid travel documents have been given a grace period to return to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah route until May 1, 2025. After that, the border will remain closed for all movement.
Alongside the border shutdown, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a significant diplomatic move affecting bilateral water-sharing agreements. The government has also cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani citizens, requiring them to leave India within 48 hours. Pakistani military advisers stationed in New Delhi have been expelled, and Indian counterparts in Islamabad have been recalled, effectively reducing diplomatic presence on both sides. Staff at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad is also being downsized.
Security has been ramped up across Punjab’s border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot, which are now on high alert. Surveillance has intensified at interstate checkpoints, tourist destinations, religious sites, and educational institutions with students from Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short an overseas trip to oversee the crisis response personally. Meanwhile, Air India has added extra flights to evacuate stranded tourists from the Kashmir Valley.
The attack has drawn strong condemnation from world leaders and sparked widespread grief across the country. Candlelight marches in Anantnag and beyond reflect both the nation’s sorrow and its resolve to stand united against terrorism.
