Bureau, April 24, 2025 – In a landmark decision signaling a hardline stance against Pakistan, the Indian government has canceled the ceasefire agreement with its neighbor with immediate effect and officially suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), escalating tensions between the two nations to unprecedented levels. The Modi government cited Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, demographic shifts in Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad’s refusal to negotiate as reasons for these drastic measures, which also include the revocation of visa services for Pakistani nationals. However, in a notable exception, long-term visas for Pakistani Hindus will remain unaffected, reflecting India’s commitment to protecting persecuted minorities.
The ceasefire agreement, originally reaffirmed in February 2021, had been a fragile mechanism to reduce cross-border violence along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border. Its cancellation, announced on April 24, comes in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which killed 26 tourists in Kashmir’s Baisaran meadow and was blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The decision to scrap the ceasefire signals India’s readiness to respond militarily to any provocations, with Indian Army officials confirming that troops along the LoC have been placed on high alert. “We will no longer tolerate Pakistan’s duplicity in supporting terrorism while pretending to honor peace agreements,” a senior defense official stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Simultaneously, India has formalized the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement that allocates 80% of the Indus River system’s water to Pakistan, providing a lifeline for its agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water needs. The treaty’s suspension was initially announced on April 23, but the official notification to Pakistan on April 24 cited specific grievances: Pakistan’s failure to curb cross-border terrorism, its alleged role in demographic changes in Kashmir through militancy, and its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve disputes. The move threatens Pakistan’s water security, with experts warning that any diversion of the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—could devastate Pakistan’s economy, which relies on the Indus system for 25% of its GDP and 80% of its irrigation needs.
Adding to the punitive measures, India has revoked all visa services for Pakistani nationals, giving those currently in the country a 72-hour deadline to leave by April 27, 2025, with medical visa holders allowed until April 29. This decision follows the expulsion of Pakistani military advisors from New Delhi and the closure of the Attari-Wagah border. However, in a humanitarian gesture, the government has clarified that long-term visas issued to Pakistani Hindus, many of whom seek refuge in India to escape religious persecution, will not be canceled. This exception underscores India’s policy of offering sanctuary to minorities facing discrimination in Pakistan, with over 1,000 Pakistani Hindus granted citizenship in recent years under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The decisions have been hailed by supporters as a “massive” and “landmark” move by the Modi government to hold Pakistan accountable. BJP leaders, including Union Minister Rajnath Singh, praised the actions as a necessary response to Pakistan’s “persistent sponsorship of terrorism.” However, critics warn that the cancellation of the ceasefire and the treaty suspension could lead to a dangerous escalation, particularly given Pakistan’s recent military buildup along the LoC, closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft, and warnings that water diversion will be treated as an “act of war.”
Pakistan has already rejected the IWT suspension, suspended all bilateral agreements—including the Simla Agreement—and halted trade with India, signaling a near-total breakdown in relations. The international community, including the United Nations and the World Bank, has urged both nations to de-escalate, with fears mounting of a potential conflict over water resources in an already volatile region. Posts on X reflect a polarized response, with some Indian users celebrating the government’s tough stance, while others express concern over the humanitarian impact on Pakistan’s population and the risk of military confrontation.
As India and Pakistan stand at a critical juncture, the Modi government’s decisions mark a significant shift in its approach to its western neighbor, prioritizing national security over diplomatic restraint. With the ceasefire nullified and the Indus Waters Treaty suspended, the region braces for an uncertain future, where the specter of conflict looms larger than ever.
