Timeline of Indian Response After Pahalgam Massacre

In the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India convened two meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)​.​ It swiftly implemented a series of retaliatory measures across multiple sectors. Here’s a quick recap:

April 23: India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a 1960 water-sharing agreement with Pakistan—until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” The treaty, which had survived wars between the neighbours, governs access to waters that irrigate 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture and support its hydropower.

April 23: India shut down the Attari-Wagah integrated border checkpost, the only official land route for trade with Pakistan. Individuals who had crossed into India were ordered to return by May 1.

April 23: All visas issued to Pakistani nationals were cancelled. Those already in India were instructed to leave within 72 hours. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), which had allowed judges, MPs, officials, journalists, and others to travel without a visa, was also suspended. Exit deadlines were April 26 for general visa holders and April 29 for those on medical visas.

April 23: India withdrew its defence, navy, and air advisers from the High Commission in Islamabad. Simultaneously, Pakistani defence personnel in New Delhi were declared persona non grata and given one week to leave.

April 24: In a public rally in Madhubani, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to identify and punish those responsible for the Pahalgam attack—terrorists, handlers, and backers alike—signalling a hardline policy.

April 24: In a rare show of unity, opposition parties across the political spectrum expressed support for the government’s actions.

April 28: India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including some major news outlets, for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content. The channels had a combined subscriber base of 63 million. The government also issued a warning to the BBC for referring to the attackers as “militants” in its coverage.

May 1: India barred all Pakistani commercial and military aircraft from using its airspace until May 23. Under the NOTAM issued, Pakistani carriers must now reroute via China or Sri Lanka to reach Southeast Asian destinations.

May 1: As part of its crackdown on cross-border misinformation, India geo-blocked the Instagram accounts of several prominent Pakistani celebrities.

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