Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned Indian Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava on Thursday to formally convey Islamabad’s protest and inform New Delhi of a series of retaliatory measures amid worsening bilateral relations.
According to diplomatic sources, the Indian envoy was handed a written démarche outlining Pakistan’s decisions in response to recent hostile Indian actions, including the alleged false flag operation in Pahalgam and the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
During the meeting, the Foreign Office informed Srivastava that Pakistan has decided to downgrade diplomatic ties with India. As part of this decision, Pakistan is limiting the staff of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to 30 members.
Moreover, it told the diplomat that the defence, naval, and air attachés, along with related personnel from the Indian High Commission, were declared persona non grata and instructed to leave Pakistan.
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“The decisions were officially communicated to the Indian side in writing,” said diplomatic sources, adding that Pakistan is exercising its sovereign right to respond to India’s provocative and unilateral actions through established diplomatic channels.
Protest outside Indian High Commission
A large protest demonstration took place outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Thursday, where civil society members and concerned citizens gathered to condemn India's unilateral actions, including its alleged water aggression.
Organized as a show of public resistance, the demonstrators entered through the main gate of the Diplomatic Enclave, advancing towards the Indian High Commission amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
Chanting powerful slogans such as "Stop Indian Water Terrorism!" and "Modi Sarkar Murdabad!", the protesters denounced India's decision to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and its continued efforts to implicate Pakistan in the Pahalgam attack.
The demonstration drew a significant crowd, with participants waving placards and calling on the international community to take notice of India’s aggressive posture, particularly on vital water rights and regional stability.
As protesters reached the gates of the Indian High Commission, security forces were reinforced in the area to manage the crowd and maintain order. Additional police and paramilitary personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure.
The protest ended peacefully with participants registering their concerns and returning from the site.
Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that in continuation of the decisions made by its Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.
The statement issued by the Indian foreign ministry said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended.
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The ministry said: “Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest.”
India has also decided to pull out its defense attachés in Pakistan, and reduce staff size at its mission in Islamabad to 30 from 55, in response to the Pahalgam attack.
India had also summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and handed over the formal persona non grata note for its military diplomats, according to sources.
