'Punishment bigger than ... ': PM Modi's warning rattles Pakistan as suspense builds up over India's retaliatory action

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rattled Pakistan amid strong signals of a buildup to a Pulwama-type retaliation, or even a stronger response, to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people.

The stage was set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who echoed the anger of the nation when he declared that "India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers" and will "pursue them to the ends of the Earth" to punish them "beyond their imagination."

The Prime Minister's strong message was followed by a slew of countermeasures to convey a clear message to Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.

• Visa services to Pakistani nationals stopped with immediate effect.
• All existing valid visas to Pakistani nationals revoked with effect from April 27.
• Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals to be valid only till April 29.
• Indians advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan.
• Indian nationals already in Pakistan urged to return home at the earliest.

These moves followed five key decisions that were announced a day earlier on Wednesday and included:

• Keeping in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
• Closing of integrated checkpost at Attari with immediate effect.
• Declaring defence, military, naval, and air advisors in the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi as persona non grata and given a week's time to leave India.
• Reducing the overall strength of the Pakistan high commission to 30 from the current 55.
• Withdrawing permission to Pakistani nationals to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme.

In 2019, India had struck terrorist camp in Balakot with airstrikes deep inside Pakistan. This after at least 40 paramilitary personnel were killed in Pulwama. Earlier in 2016, India had carried out "surgical strikes" targeting terror launch pads after the Uri attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed.

The brutality of the attack in Pahalgam left the country in shock and anger. Kashmir valley witnessed an unprecedented display of public sentiment with a widespread spontaneous protests against the killings.

India's strong buildup to a possible retaliatory action left Pakistan rattled and it announced several face-saving measures.

• Pakistan put the Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold
• It suspended all trade
• Closed its airspace for Indian airlines
• Closed the Wagah border post
• Cancelled visas given to Indians under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES)
• Asked military advisers at the Indian high commission to leave

Islamabad has also said any attempt to divert the water meant for it under the Indus Waters Treaty will be considered an Act of War. But India is determined to punish the Pahalgam attackers and those backing them. The government has the backing of all opposition parties in its fight against terrorism and India's response is likely to be "loud and clear" as Union defence minister Rajnath Singh had said yesterday.