India has formally summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in Delhi after a brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam left 26 civilians dead, many of them tourists.
The Ministry of External Affairs called in Saad Ahmad Warraich, Pakistan’s top envoy in the capital, late Tuesday night. According to government sources, India handed over a Persona non grata note, effectively asking Pakistan’s military diplomats to leave the country.
This move followed a set of strict diplomatic steps India announced in response to the Pahalgam massacre. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting the Attari border crossing, and formally downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
High-level security meeting led by PM Modi
The decision to take these strong measures was made during a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on 23 April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the session, which was also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar.
This deadly attack, which took place on 22 April in the scenic Baisaran meadow area of Pahalgam, shook the country. It also came on a day of significant international activity, US Vice President JD Vance was in India, and PM Modi was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia. Following the attack, the Prime Minister immediately cut his trip short and returned to Delhi the next morning.
Pakistan denies involvement
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif denied any role in the attack. Speaking to a local TV channel on 23 April, he claimed, “Pakistan has nothing to do with it.”
Despite Pakistan’s denial, Indian security sources believe the Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, may have been involved in the attack. Some reports also suggest that a top Lashkar commander, Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, could be the key planner. However, these claims haven’t been officially confirmed yet.In response to India’s steps, Pakistan has announced a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. According to Pakistan-based Geo News, the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is scheduled for Thursday and will focus on how to respond to New Delhi’s actions
