News Desk
NEW DELHI,— A deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, has prompted India to expel hundreds of Pakistani nationals holding short-term visas. The attack, attributed to terrorists backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has deepened India’s resolve to combat cross-border terrorism and triggered a robust diplomatic response.
On April 22, hours after the Pahalgam attack, India issued a “Leave India” directive targeting 12 categories of short-term visas, including those for tourists, business travelers, journalists, and medical visitors. SAARC visa holders faced a deadline of April 26, while medical visa holders must depart by April 29. Long-term and diplomatic visa holders are exempt.
So far, 272 Pakistani nationals have exited via the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab—191 on April 25 and 81 on April 26 and 300 to 400 more on Sunday, according to border officials. Some may have departed via airports to third countries, as direct air links between India and Pakistan remain suspended.
Concurrently, 629 Indian citizens, including 13 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the same border crossing, reflecting Islamabad’s reciprocal measures amid the diplomatic standoff. The returns underscore the deepening rift between the two South Asian powers, already strained by decades of conflict over Kashmir.
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah personally called chief ministers across the country on Friday, urging strict compliance with the expulsion order. A subsequent video conference led by Home Secretary Govind Mohan reinforced the directive, ensuring that no Pakistani national with a revoked visa remains in India past the deadline. “This is a necessary step to protect our sovereignty and send a clear message that terrorism will not be tolerated,” Mohan said.
The crackdown has been meticulously coordinated across India’s states. Maharashtra, hosting the largest number of Pakistani visa holders, had approximately 1,000 individuals on short-term visas, primarily in Nagpur, Thane, and Jalgaon. State Minister Yogesh Kadam confirmed that these individuals have been ordered to leave, though 107 Pakistanis, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, have prompted heightened security measures.
In Telangana, 208 Pakistani nationals were recorded, with 156 holding long-term visas and 13 on short-term visas. Kerala reported 104 Pakistanis, of whom five on short-term visas have already departed. Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Goa, and Gujarat have identified and expelled small numbers of Pakistani nationals, while Uttar Pradesh has nearly completed the process, with only one individual slated to leave by April 30.
Gujarat, however, hosts 438 Pakistani nationals on long-term visas, many of whom are Hindus seeking Indian citizenship.
The expulsions reflect India’s broader strategy to counter Pakistan’s destabilizing influence in Kashmir. The Pahalgam attack, described by New Delhi as a calculated act of terror, has reignited global scrutiny of Pakistan’s role. According to Indian intelligence reports, the ISI—Pakistan’s powerful military and intelligence apparatus—has orchestrated a pattern of operations to disrupt Kashmir’s progress and fracture its social fabric. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry denied involvement, calling the allegations baseless, but India dismissed the rebuttal as routine deflection.
The attack has shattered the fragile peace in Kashmir, a region cherished for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural harmony. It has further strained India-Pakistan relations, with New Delhi’s visa cancellations met by Islamabad’s expulsion of Indian diplomats. Yet India frames its response as a necessary defense of national security and a rebuke of Pakistan’s failure to curb terrorism emanating from its soil.
