Identify Pakistani nationals in states, ensure their prompt return to Pakistan: Union home minister Amit Shah to CMs

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday reached out to all chief ministers, directing them to identify Pakistani nationals residing in their states and initiate steps to ensure their exit from the country, news agency ANI reported.


The Centre had a day earlier suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, except for medical visas, which will remain valid till April 29. "In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect," the ministry of external affairs said.
The ministry further advised all Indian nationals in Pakistan to return at the earliest and warned Pakistani citizens in India to leave before the expiry of their amended visas.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri also announced that Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. "Any SPES visas issued earlier stand cancelled. Those currently in India on SPES visas must leave within 48 hours," he said.
The strong measures come after PM Narendra Modi, in his first public address following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. "The punishment will be significant and stringent — beyond what these terrorists could ever imagine," Modi said at a rally in Bihar. "India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. Our spirit will not be broken by terrorism."