FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00| LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR JUDICIAL HEAT ON DMK ‘PAHALGAM ATTACK: CWC MEET FLAGS INTELLIGENCE FAILURES’ P5 SENSEX 79,801.43 q315.06 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. OCCASIONAL SUSTAINED SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 10-20 KMPH). GUSTING UPTO 30 KMPH. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 42 AND 23 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. P8 NIFTY 24,246.70 q82.25 TEMPERATURE Max: 41.2 °C (+3.5) SUN RISES 05:45 hrs MOON RISES 04:34 hrs P3 ` vs $ 85.34 GOLD `99,020 THUMBNAILS SHAHID K ABBAS NEW DELHI, 24 APRIL IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 24 APRIL I n his first public address after the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that terrorists who attacked unarmed tourists in Pahalgam will not go unpunished. He said that this was an attack not just on unarmed tourists, but on the country’s soul. Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. Speaking at the National Panchayati Raj Day programme held in Madhubani, Bihar, on Thursday, the prime minister said that the brutal killing of innocent citizens by terrorists in Pahalgam has deeply saddened the entire nation. The whole country stands with the bereaved families in their time of sorrow. He said: “The enemies of the country have dared to assault the soul of India. I want to say it clearly that those who are responsible for this attack, terrorists who carried out this attack as well as those who conspired for this, will be punished even beyond their imagination. Now the time has come to raze whatever is left of the terror haven." Addressing the global community, he said: “Today from the soil of Bihar, I say it to the whole world - India will identify, track and punish every terrorist 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, every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us during this time,” he said. The prime minister said that peace and security are the most important conditions for rapid development. Developed Bihar is necessary for developed India. Political leaders of all hues who attended an all-party meeting called by the government on Thursday united in condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir and extended support to the government in any action it chose to take in response. The government had called the all-party meeting on Thursday in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and several injured. All political parties condemned the killings and called for efforts to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said after attending the all-party meeting. The government, at the meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, conceded that there was a security lapse, a member who was not willing to go on record said. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Pahalgam attack was carried out to “vitiate the atmosphere when the economy of Jammu and Kashmir was on upswing and tourism was booming.” Mr Rijiju said that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed the meeting on how the Pahalgam attack took place and the subsequent decisions being taken by the government. Reasserting that all parties pledged that they are with the govt and against terror, Mr Rijiju said that IB and MHA officials briefed the members on “lapses” and the steps being taken to prevent their recurrence. He said that the government has assured the political leaders of action against terror. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that everyone uniformly condemned the attack and offered full support to the government to take any action. “The Opposition has given the Centre full support to take any action,” he said. While on the government side the meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers J P Nadda, among others, leaders from more that 12 political parties also attended. Pak says blocking Indus waters will be ‘act of war’, to suspend trade, bilateral accords DAWN/ANN ISLAMABAD, 24 APRIL Pakistan on Thursday announced the suspension of trade, bilateral accords and airspaces with India, among other moves, as it retaliated to New Delhi’s slew of measures against the country in the wake of the deadly attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Among India’s actions was the unilateral move to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank and has endured through wars and decades of hostility. Pakistan made the retaliatory decisions during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad today, convened to for- mulate a response to India. Chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the meeting was attended by top government and military officials, including the defence minister, foreign minister, interior minister, national security adviser, and the chiefs of armed forces, among others. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the participants of the meeting discussed the national security environment and the regional situation, particularly in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. “Expressing concern over the loss of tourists’ lives, the committee reviewed the Indian measures announced on 23 April 2025 and termed them unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irre- CMRL pay-off case: SFIO charge sheet declares Kerala CM’s daughter mastermind STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 24 APRIL The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), in its prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed at the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, called the Kerala chief minister’s daughter Veena T (Veena Vijayan) the mastermind who played a crucial role in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL)Exalogic Solutions case. There are serious findings against Veena Vijayan of conspiracy in the charge sheet i.e. obtaining money through fraudulent means, and deliberate financial misappropriation. According to the charge sheet, Veena’s company, Exalogic Solutions, had recorded BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 66.73 Political parties extend support to govt at all-party meet Min: 20.0 °C (-2.7) SUN SETS 18:51 hrs MOON SETS 15:45 hrs Israeli PM Netanyahu speaks to Modi, offers condolences over Pahalgam attack: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his condolences, and those of the Israeli people, to the Indian people over the ''Islamist terrorist attack'' at Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir, the Israeli Embassy said. PM Modi thanked the Israeli leader for sharing in India's mourning and emphasised that the two countries stand shoulder to shoulder in the global campaign against terrorism. The two leaders also discussed advancing the transportation and communications corridor that will link Asia – via Saudi Arabia and Israel – with Europe. SILVER `1,00,900 India will pursue every terrorist to the ends of the earth, punish them, their backers: PM Modi Min. 13 % Priests perform Ganga Aarti for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack at Assi Ghat in Varanasi on Thursday. nANI P12 ‘Terrorists will be punished beyond their imagination’ RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 60 % CSK, SRH BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL ‘IN TOUCH WITH OTHER CMs OVER SAFETY OF KASHMIRI STUDENTS’ a declining growth after its inception with a liability of Rs 66 lakh per year. Its main income was later garnered after the deal with CMRL. From 2017 to 2019, the company received major financial support through transactions with CMRL. Veena started getting Rs 5 lakh every month from CMRL and the company also received Rs 3 lakh per month. The SFIO has found that Exalogic Solutions received Rs 2.70 crore from CMRL without providing any services.There are 13 accused in the case including Veena and CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha. They have been imposed with charges that can carry a prison sentence of up to ten years. sponsible and devoid of legal merit,” the statement added. The NSC also announced a series of measures in retaliation to the “reckless and irresponsible behaviour of India, which disregards international conventions, UN Security Council Resolutions and international obligations at will”. Most prominently, Pakistan decided to suspend the 1972 Simla Agreement and said it would close the Wagah Border with India. “Pakistan shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India including but not limited to Simla Agreement in abeyance, till India desists from its manifested behaviour of fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan; trans-national killings; and non-adherence to international law and UN Resolutions on Kashmir,” the PMO statement said. “Pakistan shall close down the Wagah Border Post, with immediate effect. All crossborder transit from India through this route shall be suspended, without exception,” the NSC decided, giving an 30 April deadline to those who crossed with “valid endorsements” to return through that route. “Pakistan vehemently rejects the Indian announcement to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance,” the PMO statement said, noting the pact was a binding international agreement that contained no provision for unilateral suspension. “Water is a vital national interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs,” the NSC stressed. “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.” India briefs envoys of friendly nations on Pahalgam, response STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 APRIL In what is seen as a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan, India on Thursday briefed envoys of G20 countries, including China and Canada, on the Pahalgam terror attack and the role of the neighbouring country in the assault. Union Home Minister Amit ShahandExternalAffairsMinister SJaishankar,meanwhile,briefed President Droupadi Murmu on the terror attack in which at least 26 tourists were killed, India suspends visa services to Pakistani nationals STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 APRIL In another step against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India on Thursday decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. This came a day after India took a slew of measures against the neighbouring country, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, following the April 22 attack in which at least 26 tourists were killed. ''In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025,'' the Ministry of External Affairs said. The MEA said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till 29 April. ''All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of their visas, as now amended. Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest,'' the MEA added. Indus Waters Treaty suspension: India strikes at Pakistan’s lifeline STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 APRIL The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India is going to have a huge impact on Pakistan, which is already grappling with economic challenges, according to experts. The treaty survived two wars - the 1965 and 1971 IndiaPakistan wars - and several military standoffs between the two neighbours, including the 1999 Kargil war, but has now been indefinitely suspended. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. This was among the decisions taken by the Narendra Modi government after the dastardly attack which claimed at least 26 lives. The Indus River system starts in Tibet and flows through IndiaandPakistan,alsotouching parts of Afghanistan and China. Division of the waters of the Indus river system, which spans both countries, is governed by a 56-year-old treaty, which are regarded as one of the most successful agreements of its kind. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was brokered by the World Bank after nine years of talks and signed by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan to manage shared rivers. According to the treaty, India has control over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while Pakistan gets the waters of western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Both countries are allowed limited use of the rivers and their tributaries assigned to the other for specific purposes including irrigation and power generation. Pakistan benefits the most from the treaty as it receives 80 per cent of the total water flow from these rivers, which is utilised for agriculture, mainly in its Punjab and Sindh provinces. The country is heavily dependent on it to avoid a fullblown water crisis. Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Multan draw their water directly from these rivers, vital for irrigation, farming and drinking. The treaty's suspension would definitely affect Pakistan's water requirements and agicultural sector. The Indus River network ~ comprising the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers ~ serves as Pakistan's principal water resource, supporting it major population. Pakistan's23percentnational income comes from agriculture. So, an interruption would significatly impact the country's agricultural sector, a crucial component of its economy. For Pakistan, the Indus river system is not just vital ~ it is existential. India cannot physically stop the flow of water from the western rivers, it has ways to reduce it. By using dams and smaller infrastructure built along these rivers, India aims to cripple Pakistan’s water supply. This move is likely to impact both irrigation and drinking water, at least to some extent. Pakistan already faces water management issues such as ground water depletion, salisation of agri lands and limited water storage capacity -- it is just 10 per cent of Pakistan's annual water share under the treaty. India currently generates around 3,000 MW of hydroelectricity from the western rivers, but the Indus basin is said to have a potential of nearly 19,000 MW. and the actions being taken by the government in its aftermath. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri led a series of briefings forforeigndiplomatsandambassadors stationed in New Delhi. Diplomats from key nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, China, Qatar, UAE,Oman,Indonesia,Malaysia, and Norway, were called to the foreignofficeandgivenadetailed account of the terror attack and India's response. Pakistan govt’s official X account suspended in India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 APRIL The official X account of the Government of Pakistan has been suspended in India following Tuesday's terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. After reports claimed that two of the terrorists were foreign nationals, probably from Pakistan, India announced several punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with the neighbouring country. According to X, the account was withheld in India in response to a legal demand. As per the X’s official policy on withholding the account, a valid and properly scoped request from an authorised entity is necessary to withhold access to certain content in a particular country. “Such withholdings will be limited to the specific jurisdiction that has issued the valid legal demand or where the content has been found to violate local law(s),” the X help centre stated in its policy. The move comes in response to the brutal terrorist attack at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday. A group of terrorists opened fire at tourists, killing 26 people, including a local guide and a Nepali national.