Pahalgam attack aftermath: Deadline over, 509 Pakistani nationals leave via Attari

NEW DELHI: As many as 509 Pakistani nationals exited India via the Attari integrated check post between April 25 and 27, while 744 Indian nationals returned from Pakistan via Wagah in the same period.
On April 24, India revoked all valid visas issued to Pakistani citizens, barring diplomatic and official visas and long-term visas, as part of a diplomatic offensive launched after the initial probe into the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, pointed to the role of Pakistani terrorists and terror masterminds.

Government had, while revoking the visas, announced that the validity of Saarc visa would expire on April 26, medical visa on April 29, and all other visas across a dozen categories, by April 27. Thus, all Pakistani citizens in India on these visas were required to time their exits accordingly.

Sources in agencies manning the Attari ICP told TOI that 191 Pakistani nationals had returned to their home country on April 25 by crossing over to Wagah, followed by 81 Pakistanis on April 26 and 237 the day after.
The deadlines for 13 or the 14 categories of visas issued by India to Pakistanis expired by Sunday. Only those on medical visas have another couple of days, until April 29, to leave India.
As for Indian visitors to Pakistan on valid visas, 287 returned to India via the Wagah-Attari land route on April 25, followed by 342 on April 26 and another 115 on Sunday. Some Pakistanis may have returned home through the air route via a third country, given that no direct flights currently operate between India and Pakistan, but no data in this regard was immediately available.
The home ministry had last week asked all the states - both through phone calls from home minister Amit Shah to the chief ministers and during a video-conference chaired by Union home secretary Govind Mohan with the state/UT chief secretaries and DGPs - to identify all Pakistani visitors within their jurisdiction and ensure that they exit India within the set deadlines. The states/UTs were also told to ensure suitable action against Pakistanis who fail to adhere to the deadlines, which sources said may include deportation and proceedings under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, any foreigner who overstays the period for which a visa was issued to him, could face up to three years in jail and/or up to Rs 3 lakh fine.