In the wake of a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives — primarily tourists — the Indian government has launched a sweeping crackdown targeting Pakistani nationals across the country.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday directed all states to identify individuals residing in India under 14 specific visa categories and ensure their expedited exit. The move comes a day after India suspended all visa services for Pakistan nationals. Exemptions have only been made for Long-Term Visas (LTVs), diplomatic, and official visas.
The 14 visa categories include film, journalist, pilgrim, business, student, and medical visas. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the last exit dates for these categories range from April 26 to April 29. States like Gujarat and Odisha have already begun facilitating the departure of affected Pakistani citizens.
During a video conference with Chief Secretaries, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan emphasized strict implementation of the directive. “Effective April 27, all existing visas granted to Pakistani nationals, except for LTVs and official visas, stand revoked,” said an MHA official.
India’s retaliatory measures extend beyond visa cancellations. The government has also:
Suspended the Indus Waters Treaty,
Expelled diplomats and defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi,
Shut the Attari-Wagah border,
Downgraded diplomatic ties with Islamabad.
Security agencies have been instructed to bolster surveillance and tighten border security along the 3,323 km India-Pakistan frontier, which spans Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Measures include enhanced border infrastructure, fencing, and coordinated intelligence-sharing to curb cross-border infiltration.
The visa cancellations are expected to impact hundreds of Pakistani nationals currently in India. Intelligence sources in Kerala reported 104 such individuals, mostly on visiting visas, with a significant number residing in Kannur district. Similar actions are underway in other states: Gujarat facilitated one departure and identified six more; Odisha issued exit notices to 12 individuals; and Uttarakhand has instructed one remaining short-term visa holder to leave by April 27.
In Pune, 111 Pakistani nationals have been identified, including 90 on LTVs — primarily from minority communities. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that three Pakistanis on short-term visas have been asked to leave by April 29, alongside 17 others on long-term visas.
The crackdown underscores India’s intensified stance against cross-border terrorism. Security forces allege that three of the five terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack had infiltrated from Pakistan.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)