India has withdrawn the Most FAvoured Nation status that it gave Pakistan 23 years ago. This is one of its initial responses to the deadly Pulwama attack on Thursday.

Briefing the media on Friday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley confirmed this news. He added, "The Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all possible diplomatic steps which are to be taken to ensure the complete isolation from the international community of Pakistan of which incontrovertible is available of having a direct hand in this act."

Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav welcomed the right move. "Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan by India in 1996 has been withdrawn. Strong measure on trade front while several other measures awaited. Interesting to note that Pakistan has never reciprocated. In fact, the Imran Khan government flatly refused to give MFN status to India."

After the MFN withdrawal decision, Narendra Modi said that Pakistan shouldn't do the mistake of thinking that "it can destabilize India through its tactics and conspiracies." He added, "Our security forces have been given full freedom. We have full faith in their bravery."