• Source:JND
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Pahalgam Attack: A large number of Pakistani nationals on Tuesday lined-up at the Attari border in Punjab to cross the Line of Control (LoC) as the Centre's deadline for revocation of all types of visas issued to them ends today. Visuals from the India-Pakistan border showed BSF personnel checking the passports of hundreds of Pakistan nationals standing in the scorching heat at the Attari border.

Today is the last day of validity for all visas including the medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals as per the Centre's decision in wake of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed lives of 26 people.

ALSO READ: Jammu And Kashmir Govt Closes 48 Tourist Destinations In Vulnerable Areas After Pahalgam Attack

Those leaving India shared their concerns and urged the Indian government to reconsider its decision, particularly in cases involving families and long-term residents. The validity for the short-term visas issued to Pakistani nationals had already expired on April 27 (Sunday).

"After the Pahalgam attack, there has been a lot of fear. My wife and children are in Pakistan and when my parents fell ill and have been urging me to return to Pakistan. What happened was terrible, and its aftermath has deeply affected both Pakistanis and Indians. Both communities are now living in distress," Chetan, returning to Pakistan, said.

Samreen, a Pakistani national at the Attari Border, stated that she got married in India after coming here in September with a 45-day visa, but now she has to leave the country as she hasn't been issued her long-term visa. "I came here in September with a 45-day visa. After that, I got married here. I have not got my long-term visa yet, and now suddenly I have been asked to leave the country," Samreen said.

"The terrorists should be questioned. What is our fault? Why are we being punished? The people who have relatives in the country should be allowed to stay," she added.

"I got married 10 years ago in Delhi. My visa expired during COVID. I am a NORI visa holder, but I have been asked to leave the country because of the attack in Pahalgam. Whatever happened there is absolutely wrong, but we should not be punished for this," Ira, a Pakistani national married to an Indian, said.

Krishan Kumar, who is also returning to Pakistan, said, "I came to India on a tourist visa for 45 days and now we are going back. The government should take action on the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Both countries should stay together since half of the families are there and half are here. What happened in Pahalgam is not right."

Pahalgam Terror Attack And Its Aftermath:

The horrifying attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam took place on April 22 when terrorists, affiliated to The Resistance Front (TRF), opened fire at the tourists present in the Baisaran Valley. The attack claimed 26 lives, all men, and left at least 17 injured. The terrorists killed the tourists allegedly after asking their religious identity. Family members of the deceased have revealed that the terrorists allegedly asked them to recite "Kalma", an Islamic verse, and those who failed were shot dead.

In the aftermath of the ghastly attack, India last week revoked all categories of visas isssued to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect from April 27. The deadline for medical visa will end on April 29. Meanwhile, Pakistani nationals holding a long-term visa, diplomatic or official visas have been exempted from the Centre's order.

A report by ANI, quoting a protocol officer Arun Pal at the Attari Border, stated that 537 Pakistani nationals have left India through the Attari border over the past three days after the deadline for short-term visa holders ended. Meanwhile, 850 Indian nationals have returned to India in the past three days.

ALSO READ: Pahalgam Attack: Hundreds Detained, Houses Of Terrorists Razed, Searches Underway As India Ramps Up Anti-Terror Drive

Apart from visa revocation, India also suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of river waters between the two nations. India also closed the Attari-Wagah land border crossing, effectively halting overland movement between the two nations. Pakistani military attaches have also been expelled and the diplomatic staff at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has also been reduced to 30 members.

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