Pakistan government’s X handle withheld in India following Pahalgam terror attack
New Delhi: The Government of Pakistan’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle has been withheld in India following the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 28 lives. The account, @GovtofPakistan, is no longer accessible within Indian territory and displays a message citing legal action as the reason for the restriction.
The move came shortly after India imposed a series of diplomatic sanctions against Pakistan, accusing it of supporting cross-border terrorism. The sanctions were announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CCS meeting was convened in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack, in which a group of armed terrorists opened fire on tourists at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam. According to officials, the attackers targeted Hindu pilgrims. The government has described the incident as a deliberate and ghastly act of violence.
India’s diplomatic response includes the following measures:
1. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 has been suspended until Pakistan provides credible and irreversible assurances that it will cease supporting terrorism.
2. The Attari Integrated Check Post has been closed for cross-border movement. Indian nationals with valid endorsements may return through this route until May 1, 2025.
3. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) has been revoked for Pakistani nationals. Existing SVES visas have been cancelled, and Pakistani nationals currently in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours.
4. Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and must leave the country within a week.
5. India is withdrawing its own Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors from its High Commission in Islamabad, rendering these posts inactive on both sides.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that these measures reflect India’s firm stance against terrorism and its intent to safeguard national security. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability for the attack and justice for the victims.
No official response has been issued by the Pakistani government regarding the withholding of its X handle or the sanctions announced by India.
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TN polls: TVK pushes DMK behind with leads in 83 seats, AIADMK ahead in 54
Chennai (PTI): New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on Monday when counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly polls was on across Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK was leading in 58 seats while the ruling DMK was ahead in 34, EC data showed.
About two hours after the postal ballots were counted and EVMs opened for multi-round counting, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam surged ahead of its Dravidian rivals-- the DMK and the AIADMK, with the ruling party struggling to catch up.
If the trends maintain, Vijay could as well ensure the biggest electoral upset, something in lines with the "1967,1977" wins he had referred to in his campaign speeches.
While the Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai brought the first non-Congress government in Tamil Nadu post-independence in 1967, the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) installed the maiden AIADMK government 10 years later, unseating then DMK government under M Karunanidhi. TVK was leading in most Chennai segments, all considered DMK strongholds and currently represented by the party in the 234-member House.
A poor show by DMK could belie most exit polls giving an edge to it, riding on the number of populist measures Chief Minister M K Stalin had implemented in his five year "Dravidian model," inclusive governance.
According to EC and TV reports, 15 cabinet ministers, including Stalin were trailing. His son and deputy CM Udhayanidhi was also behind in his incumbent Chepauk-Tirvuvallikeni seat, according to a number of reports.
Stalin was trailing behind TVK's VS Babu by 1234 votes in Kolathur segment. Vijay was ahead in Tiruchirappalli East by over 3,000 votes at the end of two rounds of counting, according to EC data.
BJP is trailing in 26 constituencies and it is ahead in Thali segment alone. TVK is ahead in constituencies including Ponneri, Tiruvallur, Poonamalle, and Avadi.
AIADMK is leading in segments including Katpadi, and Guidyattam and party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami is ahead in Edappadi segment by 7003 votes.
DMK was leading in segments including Vellore, Anaikattu and Rishivandiyam.
