India Blocks Pakistan's X Account After Kashmir Attack

India has blocked Pakistan's official X (formerly Twitter) account within its borders, showing a notice that the account was "withheld in response to a legal demand." The decision follows a deadly attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 were dead, and 17 were wounded. New Delhi also suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing treaty, claiming that Pakistan was complicit in cross-border terrorism.

India closed the Attari-Wagah land border which is the only crossing between the two countries and cancelled all regional visas issued to Pakistani citizens. Visitors to India on regional visas were to leave within 48 hours of the official notification. The steps aim to limit easier movement, and ramp up diplomatic pressure.

Pakistan's military attaches in New Delhi were declared persona non grata, with India withdraw all military personnel from Pakistan. However, the number of staff at India’s High Commission in Pakistan is being reduced from number 55 down to number 30, representing further deterioration of relations.

The recent Pahalgam attack (one of the deadliest in Kashmir in decades) has ramped up tensions that have been simmering for some time. No groups have explicitly claimed responsibility for the attack, however, India has accused Pakistan. The suspension of the Indus Treaty may limit water resource management and this is vital for both countries' agriculture sectors. Observers fear these steps will further entrench the two nuclear-armed rivals' standoff, negatively affecting international mediation efforts.