Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 24 : Jammu and Kashmir's Janata Dal United (JDU) President GM Shaheen on Thursday emphasised the importance of national unity in the fight against terrorism, following the recent Pahalgam terror attack. He said that all political parties coming together and speaking with one voice against terrorism is a significant development for the region.
He praised the people of Jammu and Kashmir for speaking out against terrorism, stating that if this had happened 35 years ago, it might have prevented the rise of terrorism in the region. He added that support from the entire country is needed to fight against terrorism.
Speaking to ANI, Shaheen said, "All the parties coming together and speaking in one voice against terrorism is a huge thing for Jammu and Kashmir. As you saw yesterday, for the first time, the people of Jammu and Kashmir came out of their homes and raised their voices against terrorism. If this voice had been raised 35 years ago, terrorism wouldn't have come to Kashmir. Support from the entire country is needed to fight against terrorism."
The terrorist attack on tourists at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday resulted in the death of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while leaving several others injured, in one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
Following the attack, India has taken strong countermeasures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.
In the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, India decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism and has closed the integrated Attari Check Post.
India has also declared the officials of the Pakistani High Commission persona non grata and ordered them to leave India within a week. The country further decided to cancel any visas provided under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and ordered Pakistan to leave the country within 48 hours.
The Government of India has also decided to suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals, effective immediately. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals will stand revoked, effective from 27 April 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release.