New Delhi: At a time when the entire nation is grieving the brutal killing of 28 Hindu pilgrims in a terror attack in Pahalgam, an unexpected scene outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has ignited widespread anger.
On Wednesday (April 23, 2024), visuals captured a Pakistani official entering the embassy premises with a decorated cake box, reportedly from Delhi’s well-known Defence Bakery.
The timing of this seemingly casual act has struck a nerve. While families across India are mourning their loved ones, the sight of a cake going into the Pakistani mission has been widely condemned as “tone-deaf” and “insensitive”.
Though the exact occasion remains unclear, the silence of the High Commission on the matter has only deepened suspicions.
Sharp reactions on social media
Within hours, the incident went viral. On platforms like X, Instagram and Facebook, users expressed shock and disbelief, questioning the intent behind what appeared to be a celebration inside the mission.
Many called it “a diplomatic slap” and “mockery of Indian pain”. Hashtags like #CakeGate, #InsensitivePakistan and #PahalgamMassacre began trending, with users demanding official accountability.
Diplomatic action follows tragic attack
Earlier in the day, India declared Pakistan’s defence, naval and air advisers as persona non grata, ordering them to leave within a week.
A formal notice was delivered to Pakistan’s top diplomat in India, Saad Ahmad Warraich. Simultaneously, India also announced the withdrawal of its military representatives from Islamabad.
Security barricades outside the Pakistan High Commission were also taken down by the Delhi Police, another visible shift in India’s diplomatic stance.
Pakistan government’s X handle blocked in India
Adding to the escalation, the Indian government withheld access to the official X account of the Government of Pakistan, making it inaccessible within Indian territory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday evening. The two-hour meeting, attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, focused on India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Decisive measures announced by CCS:
- Indus Waters Treaty suspended
The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will remain in abeyance until Pakistan verifiably ends its support for cross-border terrorism. - Closure of Attari check-post
The Attari integrated check-post is shut with immediate effect. Pakistani nationals who entered through this route may return by May 1, 2025. - SAARC visa exemption cancelled
Travel by Pakistani citizens under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme is now prohibited. Existing SVES visas stand cancelled. Those currently in India under this scheme must leave within 48 hours. - Military advisers withdrawn from both sides
Military attachés and their support staff in both countries will be recalled. These roles are now annulled. - Diplomatic staff cut by nearly half
The number of personnel in both high commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30, effective May 1, 2025.
Munish Sood
