The defence advisers in the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi were declared persona non grata and asked to leave, Misri said, adding that the overall strength of the Indian high commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 from 55.

It was the worst attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings and shattered the relative calm in Kashmir, where tourism has boomed as an anti-India insurgency has waned in recent years.

People light candles for the massacre’s victims during a protest in Srinagar, India. Source: AAP / Danish Showkat / Eyepix Group / Sipa USA

A little-known militant group, the “Kashmir Resistance”, claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media message.

“Their evil agenda will never succeed,” Modi said shortly after the attack.

Many shops and businesses in Kashmir closed to protest the killings. Following the attack, some tourists started to leave Kashmir.