“Enough Is Enough”: India’s Multi‑Layered Response to the 23 April 2025 Pahalgam Massacre

A deep‑dive into the actions, the stakes, and what comes next.

The Attack—A Timeline With Context

Why Pahalgam?

• Peak spring tourist season (occupancy > 85 %) meant guaranteed civilian casualties.

• Area had just recorded its best voter turnout in 25 years during the March‑April local polls, undercutting separatist narratives. www.ndtv.com

The Government’s 360° Counter‑Measures

Diplomatic / Legal

• Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “held in abeyance” after 64 years. India cites Article 60 of the Vienna Convention, claiming “material breach” by Pakistan. The World Bank—official guarantor—has been formally notified. The Tribune

• Persona non grata to Pakistani defence staff: Ten military attachés and families must depart within 48 hours. www.ndtv.com

• SAARC Visa Exemption cards revoked: ~320 Pakistani officials, athletes and journalists told to exit by 25 April midnight.

Security / Border

Economic Lever

• Power Ministry instructs NHPC to withhold 22 % surplus hydro‑power normally exported to Pakistan from Salal & Baglihar projects—first time the clause has been invoked.

• Commerce Ministry suspends the 2020 Limited MFN window for Pakistani leather & pharma inputs.

Political Reverberations

“The message is clear: you cannot shed innocent blood in Kashmir at breakfast and expect business as usual by lunch.”
—External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressing the all‑party meet, 24 April

• All‑party meeting outcome: unanimous backing for the measures; opposition demands enhanced border fencing & compensation package of ₹25 lakh per victim’s family (Govt agreed).

• Rahul Gandhi’s early return put rare bipartisan optics on display. The Indian Express

• Pakistan’s NSC session (24 Apr evening): Defence Min Khawaja Asif confirms deliberations on approaching the International Court of Arbitration over IWT suspension. Al Jazeera

• NOTAM for missile test: Pakistan’s navy warns of a 550‑km danger zone off Karachi for 24‑25 April; Indian Navy activates passive monitoring.

Human Angle—Stories Behind the Numbers

• Couple on their honeymoon, Chandigarh software engineers Riya & Karan, shielded two children; both killed, kids survived with minor injuries.

• Nepalese trekking guide Dawa Sherpa, the group’s interpreter, is among the dead—Kathmandu has sought joint investigation access.

• Local Kashmiris formed 10‑km human chain to facilitate ambulance movement—videos viral under #KashmirStandsWithTourists.

Global Reactions at a Glance

What Could Happen Next? (Expert Scenarios)

1. Limited‑scope cross‑LoC strike similar to 2016 surgical strikes.

2. Economic squeeze: India may hike customs duty on the still‑operational Wagah postal imports (₹700 cr/yr).

3. Water leverage escalation: Construction acceleration on Ujh & Sawalkot dams to cut Pakistan’s irrigation buffer within three years. Business Today

FAQs

• How much water does Pakistan stand to lose under a suspended IWT?

Roughly 80 billion m³ annually (about the volume of Lake Superior) allocated from the western rivers. India says “utilisation, not diversion” will be maximised; Pakistan fears dry canals by summer 2026.

• Could the World Bank mediate?

Yes, as the treaty’s broker it can call an emergency review. In 2016 the Bank paused arbitration on a similar dispute.

• What happens to the cross‑border Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage?

The corridor remains open for now; MEA says “religious travel will not be weaponised,” but security vetting is tightened.

• Is this India–Pakistan 2019 all over again?

There are echoes of the Pulwama–Balakot cycle, but both economies are more fragile post‑COVID. Analysts expect diplomacy to run parallel to any kinetic action.

• How long can the border stay closed without crippling Punjab’s farm exports?

Traders estimate a six‑week buffer using sea routes; beyond that, cold‑storage costs eat into margins.

• What compensation do victims’ families receive?

Centre: ₹10 lakh ex‑gratia; J‑&‑K UT: ₹15 lakh; insurance top‑ups vary. Opposition wants a uniform ₹25 lakh.

Bottom Line

India has fused water, trade, visas, and diplomacy into a single, high‑pressure lever aimed at Islamabad—betting that the cost of harbouring terror will finally outweigh the perceived strategic benefit. Whether that bet pays off, or spirals into a fresh crisis, will become clearer in the crucial fortnight ahead.

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