Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified dramatically following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that left 25 Indian tourists dead. Claimed by a Pakistan-backed terror outfit, the attack has triggered widespread national outrage and heightened fears of military escalation.
In a clear signal of military preparedness, both nations are now conducting live-fire exercises at sea. On Thursday, the Indian Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, INS Surat, successfully engaged a sea-skimming target using its Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system during a high-readiness drill in the Arabian Sea.
#IndianNavy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer #INSSurat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea skimming target marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities.
Proud moment for #AatmaNirbharBharat!@SpokespersonMoD… pic.twitter.com/hhgJbWMw98
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) April 24, 2025
Simultaneously, Pakistan has issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for missile activity in the Arabian Sea on 24 and 25 April. The coordinates, which span a vast area parallel to Pakistan’s coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), mark the area of a live-fire naval exercise that includes missile launch drills.
Defence sources confirm that the Pakistan Navy has commenced the exercise amid a broader military alert. Pakistani air defences have been activated, and AWACS aircraft are conducting regular surveillance flights to monitor Indian aerial activity near the border.
Sources also revealed that Pakistani ground forces were already engaged in an ongoing army exercise near the western border when the Pahalgam attack occurred. Since then, Indian intelligence has tracked increased Pakistani military activity along the Line of Control (LoC).
In its first public response, India vowed to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice. At a public rally in Bihar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared:
“India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist, their handlers, and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished.”
India’s initial measures have been diplomatic but decisive. The most significant move has been the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. The government has stated that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly ceases support for cross-border terrorism. Though the immediate impact may be limited, the long-term strategic implications for Pakistan are substantial.
Further measures include closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari and cancelling the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals. The Foreign Secretary announced on Wednesday that all previously issued SVES visas have been nullified, and any Pakistani citizens currently in India under the scheme have been given 48 hours to leave.
In a sharp diplomatic move, India has declared the defence, naval, and air attachés at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, giving them one week to leave the country. India will similarly withdraw its military advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Effective 1 May, the strength of both missions will be capped at 30 personnel, down from the existing 55.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has also reviewed the national security situation and directed all defence forces to maintain maximum vigilance.
“The government has resolved that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack—and their sponsors—will be brought to justice. Just as in the case of Tahawwur Rana’s extradition, India remains unrelenting in its pursuit of terrorists and their enablers,” the Foreign Secretary emphasized.
Meanwhile, in a symbolic digital move, the Indian government has also restricted access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Pakistani government within India.
Team BharatShakti
