Trade to water: India uses a diplomatic blitz to penalize Pakistan over the Pahalgam tragedy

India's reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack—in which 26 innocent tourists were gunned down by terrorists—has been nothing short of forceful and comprehensive, marking the strongest retaliatory response since Pulwama 2019. The scale and scope of the countermeasures, which touch every aspect of bilateral engagement—diplomacy, trade, visas, social media, soft power, and international cooperation—signal a new doctrine of zero tolerance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphatic message—“We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth”—delivered in English to ensure global resonance, has become the cornerstone of India’s counter-offensive strategy. These steps reflect India's intent not just to respond, but to reshape the rules of engagement with Pakistan permanently.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of India’s sweeping retaliatory measures:

1. Complete Visa Freeze:
   India suspended all visa services, including medical visas, for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing Pakistani visitors have been asked to leave the country, and Indian citizens have been advised to avoid travel to Pakistan, effectively freezing people-to-people contact.

2. SAARC Visa Exemptions Cancelled:
   Under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), several categories of individuals, including diplomats and officials, enjoyed relaxed visa norms. India has cancelled all these privileges and asked such visitors to exit India by Friday evening.

3. Digital Censorship of Pakistan’s Voice:
   In a rare move reflecting the seriousness of the situation, India withheld access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Pakistani government. A legal takedown request was cited, indicating a direct challenge to Pakistan’s online narrative-building.

4. Wagah-Attari Border Closed:
   India shut down the only land route between the two nations — the Wagah-Attari border crossing in Punjab. This move will severely hit cross-border trade, impacting livelihoods of thousands of small traders and disrupting routine border exchanges.

5. Indus Waters Treaty Suspended:
   In a bold and unprecedented decision, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty — a 63-year-old water-sharing agreement that had survived multiple wars and terror attacks. This could cripple Pakistan's agriculture sector, which relies heavily on these rivers for irrigation.

6. Expulsion of Military Attachés:
   India has declared Pakistani air, navy, and army advisers persona non grata, cutting diplomatic personnel strength from 55 to 30. This sharp downsizing, combined with earlier expulsions, signals the lowest point in diplomatic relations in years.

7. Border Ceremonies Scaled Down:
   The BSF scaled down the ceremonial daily retreat parades at Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki. These symbolic events, once showcases of military discipline and neighbourly rivalry, have been reduced to muted protocol — a strong cultural signal of disengagement.

8. Soft Power Clampdown:
   Even cultural exchanges have taken a hit. The Indian government has blocked the release of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's comeback film 'Abir Gulal', which was set for a May 9 release. The move follows online boycott calls and reflects a growing sentiment of cultural disassociation.

9. Global Isolation Drive:
   India has gone beyond bilateral actions to rally the world against Pakistan. Top diplomats from the US, UK, EU, Italy, Qatar, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, and even China were briefed in a special session about the terror attack. The clear message: Pakistan harbours terror, and the world must respond collectively.

10. International Condemnation Secured:
    India’s efforts bore fruit with swift condemnations from world powers. Leaders like Putin, Macron, Sunak, Netanyahu, and Trump (who personally called PM Modi) stood in solidarity. Even China, often reluctant to criticize Islamabad, joined the chorus — a diplomatic win for New Delhi.

These measures, far from symbolic, aim to permanently recalibrate India-Pakistan ties in a way that eliminates tolerance for ambiguity on terrorism. By combining hard power, soft power, and international pressure, India has made it clear that it will no longer allow terror strikes to be brushed off diplomatically.

The Pahalgam massacre, tragic as it is, has become a turning point — not just for India’s security doctrine, but also for its global messaging. And all signs suggest: more countermeasures could follow if Pakistan does not act decisively against terror groups on its soil.