Indian Govt Cancels All Pakistani Visas, Urges Bharatiya Citizens in Pak To Return Home

Pahalgam Terror Attack: In another major development post Jammu and Kashmir terrorist attack, the Indian government has cancelled all Pakistani visas and asked Pakistani nationals to leave India before their visas expire. Additionally, the Indian nationals currently in the Pakistani territory have been asked to return as soon as possible.

"The Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025," read a Ministry of External Affairs press release issued on Thursday, April 24.

The announcement has come in continuation of the decision made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The Centre had announced the cancellation of SARC visas issued to Pakistani nationals on Wednesday night. Additionally, Delhi had announced to shut the Attari border and even ordered the reduction of High Commission strength.

Pakistani High Commission defence advisors have been asked to leave India within a week. Whereas, the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty has been put in abeyance until Pakistan reiterates its stance on terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to 'trace and punish' all those people who are behind the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He also took a veiled dig at the neighbouring country and said that the "perpetrators of terrorism" will not be spared this time.

"India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism," said PM Modi, underlining that the act will not go unpunished. He assured that the government will take "every effort to make sure that the justice is done."

Pakistani Visa Ban: How is It Different From Pakistani SVES Visas, Cancelled Initially?

The cancellation of all Pakistani visas is an extension of the previous order to cancel Pakistani nationals' visas issued under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). According to MEA's previous statemen, any SVES visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be cancelled to immediate effect, as per MEA's statement released on Wednesday, hence, Pakistani nationals with SVES visas will have to leave the country within 48 hours. As per the new statement by MEA, Pakistani nationals with other visa categories will have to leave India before the expiry of their permits.

India Shuts Attari Border, Postpones Indus Waters Treaty

Apart from announcing the Pakistani visa ban, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting held on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also announced closure of the Integrated Check Post Attari border. Pakistani officials who crossed the border with valid endorsements have to return before 1 May, 2025.
Additionally, the Indian government put the decades old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in abeyance. As per MEA's announcement, the treaty stands cancelled "until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism."

Pahalgam Terror Attack

More than 25 people lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, when armed men began open firing in Pahalgam on April 22. The security forces have launched a search operation to hunt down the terrorists involved in the attack.