India Orders Pak Nationals To Leave, Suspends Visas; Islamabad Reacts

New Delhi:

Ramping up its response after the five measures announced on Wednesday, India has revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals – including medical visas – and suspended visa services for Pakistanis following Tuesday’s dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals will stand revoked with effect from Sunday, April 27. All medical visas issued to citizens of that country will also be valid only till Tuesday, April 29, it said, adding that all Pakistanis currently in India must leave before their visas expire based on these revised timelines. 

Most Pakistanis who have been issued Indian visas will, thus, have 72 hours to leave the country. 

Visa services to Pakistani nationals will also be suspended, which means residents of the country will not get documents to travel to India.

“Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Wednesday’s Measures

The new measures came a day after India announced a series of steps arrived at during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security – the country’s highest decision-making body on security matters – chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Wednesday that Pakistani nationals will not be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Visa Exemption Scheme. Any Pakistanis in India on such visas will also have to leave the country within 48 hours.

The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, Mr Misri announced, will be suspended immediately until “Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism”, and the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect. “Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1,” the foreign secretary said.

Another major announcement was that the defence/military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared “persona non grata” and have a week to leave India. New Delhi will also withdraw such advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. 

The overall strength of the high commissions will also be brought down to 30 from the current 55 by May 1.

Pakistan’s Response

Pakistan also reacted to India’s measures on Thursday, announcing two major measures, among others. A statement by the Pakistan government said it “shall exercise the right” to put all bilateral agreements – including the Simla agreement – on hold. Pakistan’s airspace will also be closed for all Indian airlines with immediate effect.