Pahalgam attack: India summons senior Pakistani diplomat, calls all-party meeting

India has summoned Pakistan’s senior-most diplomat in New Delhi, according to local media reports on Thursday, just a day after announcing a series of measures to scale down diplomatic ties with Islamabad.

The developments come in the wake of an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which has further strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The attack, which occurred in Anantnag district and claimed the lives of 26 civilians, is considered the deadliest in nearly two decades in the region. In its aftermath, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri alleged cross-border involvement and announced that New Delhi would suspend the Indus Water Treaty—a river-sharing agreement that has been in place for over 60 years—and close the only land border crossing between the two countries.

Additionally, India will withdraw its defence attachés from Pakistan and reduce the number of staff at its diplomatic mission in Islamabad from 55 to 30, Misri stated.

As part of these measures, India has formally informed Pakistan’s envoy that all defence advisers at the Pakistani High Commission are being declared persona non grata and must leave within a week.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened an all-party meeting with opposition leaders on Thursday to brief them on the government’s response to the Anantnag attack and the subsequent steps being taken.