Pakistan govt’s X handle suspended in India after Pahalgam terror attack

The official X account of Pakistan’s government was suspended in India on Thursday, two days after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists.

The account was withheld by the Indian side following a legal request.

The development comes after the Indian government downgraded ties with Pakistan on Wednesday in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam.

India summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, on Thursday to hand him the official Persona Non Grata notice for Pakistan’s military diplomats who have been expelled as part of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision.

At a late evening media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announcing the decisions said the overall strength of the Pakistani and Indian high commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by May 1.

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Misri said the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam attack were “brought out” in a briefing to the CCS, following which it decided to take the measures against Pakistan.

The new retaliatory actions shut down the few existing diplomatic mechanisms between the two sides taking bilateral relations to yet another new low.

The foreign secretary, announcing the five retaliatory measures, said “the defence, military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata” and they have a week to leave India.

Bodies of tourists reach hometowns

On Wednesday, the bodies of the 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack reached their respective hometowns.

The victims included tourists from across India as well as one Nepali national. Their remains were initially transported in coffins to Srinagar, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute by laying wreaths. From there, the bodies were flown to their respective hometowns.

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To facilitate this, airlines operated over 50 flights from Srinagar, ensuring the return of the victims and providing transport for 123 grieving family members who accompanied them to their final destinations.

Indian army opens fire at terrorists in Poonch

Indian Army troops deployed at a forward post in Mendhar, Poonch, opened fire late last night after detecting suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC).

Defence Sources told News18 that the movement was challenged by a sentry on duty. The manoeuvres prompted immediate action to prevent any potential infiltration attempt.

Soon after the incident, a search operation was launched in the area to rule out the possibility of infiltration. Meanwhile, an encounter between security forces and terrorists occurred in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district. Additional security forces have reportedly rushed to the spot.