Pahalgam attack: Anxiety among 35,000 Pakistani migrants who await citizenship

JODHPUR: Indian govt's directive for all Pakistani nationals to leave India by April 27 following the Pahalgam massacre has sparked anxiety among migrants who escaped religious persecution in Pakistan and sought refuge in India. Authorities indicated that nearly 35,000 migrants, who await citizenship, remain uncertain about their future in India. Recent arrivals and those yet to submit their permanent residency applications are particularly concerned.
A resident of a migrant settlement in Jodhpur, Chetan Ram (name changed), who arrived from Sindh region with his family earlier this year, said, "Like many, I escaped Pakistan due to minority persecution. I lost sleep since the govt ordered Pakistani citizens to leave India in 48 hours."
Prem Chand Bheel, an Indian citizen since 2019, said he was concerned about the unclear status of minority migrants and added that the closure of the Attari and Wagah borders by India and Pakistan respectively will affect communication between divided families.
"Migrants here have relatives in Pakistan and they keep visiting each other using the open border. But with this closure, these relations will be impacted," Bheel said, adding that the Munabao-Khokhrapar route closure via Thar Express already restricted travel.
Ganpat Singh from Umerkot, whose daughter Meena Kanwar married a Jaisalmer resident in Jan, said, "It has led to a big problem for families across the border. Their communication will now cease." He added that recent visitors will be compelled to return prematurely and the directive casts a shadow on the tradition of cross-border marriages.
ASP (CID) and Foreign Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Narpat Singh, said long-term visa (LTV) holders need not be concerned.