Attari: Pakistani nationals have started arriving at the Wagah-Attari border in Amritsar ahead of the deadline to leave India, following a strong response from the Indian government after the Pahalgam terror attack. The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s popular tourist area, has led to significant diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
In response to the attack, India suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals and instructed visa holders to leave by Sunday. However, medical visas remain valid until Tuesday. Pakistan also reciprocated by suspending the SAARC visa exemption scheme for Indian nationals.
At the Wagah border, which has traditionally been the main point of travel and trade between the two countries, families were seen waiting to return to Pakistan. NDTV reported seeing individuals and families preparing to cross over as they near the deadline to leave India.
“I am returning to Pakistan,” one Pakistani national told NDTV. “I was informed about the situation in Kashmir and given 48 hours to leave India, so I am heading back home.”
The Wagah border, which has been the site of the famous border ceremony, has also been shut, halting the symbolic display that had long drawn tourists from both countries. India’s suspension of visa services, along with the halt in border ceremonies, marks a significant strain in the bilateral relationship.
Indian authorities are taking steps to ensure the smooth return of Pakistani nationals. In Uttar Pradesh, local police have begun compiling a list of Pakistani citizens living in various cities under different types of visas. The state government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has also held meetings to facilitate the formalities for the returnees.
India has long accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists, and in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi has reiterated its stance, calling Pakistan a “global epicenter of terrorism.” As part of its retaliatory actions, India also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement between the two nations, citing the sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
In retaliation, Pakistan announced it would suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement of 1972, which affirmed the status of the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
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