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Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Paatil
Credit: X/@CRPaatil
New Delhi: Stepping up pressure on Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror strike, the union government on Friday said it has developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that "not a single drop of water" flows into the neighbouring country from India.
It also revoked 14 categories of visas, including those of business, conference, visitor and pilgrim, issued to Pakistani nationals besides asking states to identify and deport Pakistani nationals staying in India, including those having medical visas. However, long-term visas issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals would “remain valid” as well as diplomatic and official visas issued to Pakistani nationals.
Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Water Resources Minister CR Paatil and Ministry officials on the implementation of the decision to keep the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 in abeyance during which officials from the Ministries of Water Resources and Power have been asked to prepare a three-pronged strategy -- short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
"A roadmap was prepared in the meeting. Three options were discussed in the meeting. The government is working on short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures so that not even a drop of water goes to Pakistan," Paatil told reporters after the meeting. Immediate measures like desilting of rivers will be done to stop water and divert it, he said.
The Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a slew of directives and the meeting was held as a follow up. Shah made several suggestions at the meeting for its effective implementation, he said.
"The historic decision taken by the Modi government on the Indus Water Treaty is entirely just and in the national interest. We will ensure that not a single drop of the Indus River's water reaches Pakistan," Paatil later posted on 'X'.
Separately, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said they have never been in favour of the Indus Water Treaty as it has been the "most unfair document" to the people.
The meeting comes two days after India announced keeping in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty and revoking all visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 27 and medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 29. New Delhi has also asked Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest.
During the day, Shah also telephoned Chief Ministers of all states, urging them to take steps to ensure that no Pakistani national stays in India beyond the deadline set for leaving the country following the Pahalgam terror strike, sources said.
Shah urged the Chief Ministers to identify Pakistani nationals staying in their states and ensure their deportation in case they overstay, sources said. However, sources said long-term visas already issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals would "remain valid" and no action should be taken against them.
Home Secretary Govind Mohan also held a video conference with Chief Secretaries of all the states and asked them to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked must leave India by the fixed deadline. No new visas will be issued to any Pakistani national, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.
The Home Minister has been in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning to Delhi to attend the Cabinet Committee of Security meeting, which took a series of decisions, including keeping in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also briefed foreign envoys on the terror strike and action taken by India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke to a couple of Heads of States, said in Bihar on Thursday that India will "identify, track, and punish" every terrorist and their "backers" involved in the Pahalgam attack and pursue the killers to the "ends of the earth".
The government has already taken political parties on both sides of the spectrum on board though Opposition parties had questioned it over security lapses.