Srinagar, April 24 -- But the government's response this time has been anything but routine. In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia and immediately convened the Cabinet Committee on Security. The decisions taken signal a major shift in how India plans to deal with Pakistan going forward.

Five key measures were announced: the Indus Waters Treaty, long seen as a symbol of cross-border cooperation, is being put on hold; the Attari land crossing is being shut; Pakistanis will no longer get visa exemptions under SAARC; and diplomatic presence in both countries will be scaled back significantly. These steps go beyond the symbolic: they reflect a deep rethink of India's approach to its western ...