Pakistan's top brass to meet today to plan response to India's action over Pahalgam attack

Pakistan's move to hold a meeting comes after India announced punitive actions against Islamabad following the deadly terror attack in J&K's Pahalgam.

Updated on: Apr 24, 2025, 04:55:36 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that the country's top civilian and military leadership will hold a meeting on Thursday to come up with an appropriate response to India's five big moves against Islamabad, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.

Pakistan's National Security Committee will be held under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. (Reuters)

A day after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly civilians, the Indian government announced massive punitive actions against Pakistan. The Centre put in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty with immediate effect, closed the integrated check post at the Attari border and downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.

ALSO READ | India takes 5 big actions against Pakistan over Pahalgam attack

‘Response to Indian steps’

Asif, in a statement, said, "A session of the National Security Committee will be held under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," adding that the decision taken there will be to give "an appropriate response to the Indian steps".

Thursday's meeting in Islamabad would be attended by all services chiefs and key cabinet ministers, a news agency PTI report said. Notably, such meetings are held a time when issues related to national security are to be discussed.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned early on Wednesday after cutting short his state visit to Saudi Arabia in view of the terror attack in Pahalgam. Upon his return, he chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

A government statement said that the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. "It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development," it added.

ALSO READ | Kashmir shuts down after years, this time to protest Pahalgam terror attack

Other the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and closure of the integrated check post at Attari border, India also announced that Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to the country under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any Pakistani national under this visa has to leave India within 48 hours.

Additionally, all the defence advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have also been declared Persona Non Grata, and have been given a week's time to leave the country. The overall strength of the high commissions will also be brought down to 30 from the current 55, to come into effect by May 1.

Notably, the Resistance Front (TRF) a shadow outfit of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack in Pahalgam.

(with PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.