Pakistani Nationals Exit India Amid Visa Ban Following Pahalgam Terror Attack

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India expelled Pakistani nationals under the SAARC visa scheme, closed the Attari check post, and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. Departures began Thursday, as tensions rose and families cut short visits, highlighting the diplomatic fallout of one of Kashmir’s deadliest attacks in recent years.

Following the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Indian government has implemented a series of immediate and hardline measures against Pakistan-linked entities. Among them is a 48-hour deadline issued to Pakistani nationals currently in India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. On Thursday, many began returning to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border, marking a tense shift in bilateral ties.

Several families who had arrived in India on extended visas were seen at the Integrated Check Post in Amritsar, cutting their visits short in compliance with the government’s directive. Some, who had intended to stay longer, expressed sorrow over the attack and hoped for peace and mutual understanding between the two nations.

The decision, announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, also includes the revocation of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals. Additionally, the Attari integrated check post has been shut indefinitely, and Pakistani military attaches have been expelled from India. The longstanding Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, has also been suspended, signaling a serious diplomatic escalation.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took these steps after officials confirmed cross-border involvement in the Pahalgam attack. Victims’ families and the broader public have called for decisive and uncompromising justice.

As the situation at the border evolves, those who had already crossed into India on valid documents have been assured of return access by May 1. Meanwhile, some Indian citizens scheduled to visit Pakistan were also seen at the border, uncertain of their travel status following the abrupt closure.

Also Read: Digital Evidence Links Pahalgam Attack to Pakistan-Based Terror Networks: Officials

The government’s actions reflect a resolute response to terror and an attempt to send a clear message across the border about India’s intolerance for cross-border terrorism.