A major counter-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir has led to the elimination of Junaid Ahmed Bhatt, a high-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist involved in orchestrating a series of deadly attacks including the recent massacre in Sonamarg. Bhatt, classified as an ‘A+ category’ militant and originally from Kulgam, was gunned down by security forces during an encounter in Dachigam in December 2024.

Module operated under Lashkar leadership

Bhatt was a pivotal figure in a Lashkar-e-Taiba module that, according to intelligence reports, functions under the direct command of Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed and his deputy Saifullah, both believed to be operating from Pakistani soil. The group reportedly receives not only ideological motivation but also strategic support from Pakistan’s military establishment and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

While the module includes a majority of foreign operatives, several local elements and overground workers from the Kashmir Valley assist the network by providing shelter and logistical support. Following coordinated attacks, the group’s operatives often go underground, using forest cover to evade security operations until fresh instructions arrive from handlers across the border.

Brutality of Pahalgam attack unveiled

The group’s involvement came into focus after the chilling Pahalgam attack, where terrorists targeted civilians at three different locations in the scenic Baisaran valley. In the gruesome assault, five people were shot dead at a single spot, two were gunned down in an open field, and more were targeted near a fenced enclosure. Survivors recounted that the attackers even engaged them in short conversations before opening fire, pointing to a calculated and cold-blooded execution.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released sketches of three suspects in the case. Two of them, identified as Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha, are believed to be Pakistani nationals, while the third, Abdul Hussain Thokar, is a local from Anantnag. Authorities have announced a cash reward of ₹20 lakh for credible leads aiding in their arrest. A suspected hideout used by the module has also been uncovered in forested terrain nearby.

High-level security response and diplomatic measures

In response to the escalating threat, India’s top security panel—the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)—held an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The panel, which included senior figures like Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, rolled out a series of stringent countermeasures.

From May 1, both India and Pakistan will downsize their diplomatic missions, slashing staff numbers from 55 to 30. Military and intelligence personnel from Pakistan stationed at its High Commission in Delhi have been ordered to leave India within a week, while Indian representatives in Islamabad will also be withdrawn.

Further, the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals has been suspended, and all existing visas under this provision have been revoked. Pakistani citizens residing in India under the scheme have been directed to exit the country by May 1. The Attari-Wagah border crossing has also been closed indefinitely. India has additionally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

Massive protests were witnessed outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, as demonstrators demanded justice and accountability. Demonstrations have also spread across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, underlining the widespread public outrage against the Pahalgam attack.

India has officially suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, citing continued cross-border terrorism as the key reason. The decision was communicated on Thursday evening through a formal letter sent by the Union Ministry of Water Resources to Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary, Syed Ali Murtuza.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, had survived multiple wars and diplomatic stand-offs between the two nations. The latest move follows the Pahalgam massacre, where 26 tourists were gunned down by militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident has triggered a series of non-military retaliatory measures by India.

India cites changing realities and treaty breaches

The letter emphasized that honoring a treaty in good faith is a fundamental obligation, but that has been undermined by sustained cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan, specifically targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

It further stated that several fundamental changes have occurred since the treaty’s execution — including shifts in population demographics, clean energy priorities, and altered assumptions around water-sharing. India accused Pakistan of failing to engage in negotiations despite repeated requests, thereby breaching key provisions of the treaty.

Home ministry to hold high-level meet on treaty decision

A key meeting to review the implications of the suspension is scheduled at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence, with Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and other senior ministers expected to participate. The decision was finalized during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This marks the first time India has suspended the treaty — a bold move even amid previous crises, signaling a shift in New Delhi’s approach to bilateral water diplomacy.

Pakistan reacts strongly, warns of consequences

Pakistan responded with a sharp warning, stating that any attempt to block or divert Indus waters would be treated as an “act of war.” Islamabad also announced retaliatory measures: reducing Indian diplomatic presence, closing airspace to Indian flights, shutting the Wagah border, and expelling Indian Defence, Naval, and Air Advisers from Islamabad.

The Indus River system is vital to Pakistan’s agriculture, electricity production, and drinking water — making the treaty’s suspension a significant setback.

Pahalgam attack at the center of escalation

The diplomatic flashpoint originated from the terror attack in Pahalgam, where gunmen linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot opened fire on tourists in the Baisaran area, killing 26 people. Often referred to as “mini Switzerland,” the scenic spot turned into a tragedy site, prompting public outrage and swift government action.

India responded by cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including medical visas, and closed the Attari-Wagah border. While there was no immediate military retaliation discussed, past responses like surgical strikes and air raids following the Uri and Pulwama attacks keep that option open.

In a speech in Bihar’s Madhubani, Prime Minister Modi vowed to track and punish those responsible for the Pahalgam attack. He declared that terrorism will not go unpunished and justice will be pursued to the “ends of the earth.”

India has launched a firm diplomatic and strategic response against Pakistan following the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including a foreign national. Authorities have linked the attack to Pakistan-based group The Resistance Front, a proxy of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Major measures announced by India

A day after the attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), India’s highest decision-making body on national security, convened to assess the situation. Based on the investigation findings and identified “cross-border linkages,” a series of significant measures were unveiled:

Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, has withstood multiple wars between India and Pakistan. India has now placed the agreement in abeyance, halting the flow of water from the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers to Pakistan. This move has the potential to severely impact water availability for millions in Pakistan.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas cancelled: All SVES visas issued to Pakistani nationals have been revoked. Those currently in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours. India will no longer issue such visas to Pakistani citizens.

Closure of Attari-Wagah border crossing: The Attari Integrated Check Post has been shut with immediate effect. Individuals already in India with valid endorsements can return to Pakistan via the same route only until 1 May 2025.

Reduction in diplomatic staff and withdrawal of defence advisors: Both countries will downsize their respective high commissions. India will reduce its personnel in Islamabad from 55 to 30. Defence officials, including naval and air advisers, have been declared persona non grata and must exit within a week.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that these steps are intended to hold accountable not only the perpetrators but also those enabling terrorism. “The CCS resolved that justice will be pursued relentlessly,” Misri added, referencing the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana as an example of India’s uncompromising stance.

Political and strategic context

Water Resources Minister CR Paatil lauded the decision to suspend the treaty, noting that such steps had been considered in the past, especially after incidents like the 2019 Pulwama attack. The treaty has long been viewed as a symbol of rare bilateral cooperation, but its suspension marks a dramatic shift, signaling India’s growing impatience with what it perceives as Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as a state tool.

The move comes amid mounting warnings from water experts about Pakistan’s looming water crisis, driven by overpopulation, climate change, and mismanagement. The disruption in river flows from India could intensify that crisis, adding pressure on Islamabad.