In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, more than 450 Indian nationals have returned to India through the Wagah border over the past three days, following the cancellation of their visas. The returnees were forced to cut short their stays in Pakistan after India revoked the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) privileges for Pakistani nationals. The Indian government’s decision to cancel the visas was made as part of retaliatory actions following the deadly attack that claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir.
The most recent group of returnees on Saturday included 23 individuals from a broadcast company involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. Indian officials confirmed that the total number of Indians crossing back on Saturday would be updated later. On Friday, approximately 300 Indians crossed the Wagah border, while around 100 returned on Thursday, adding to the growing number of repatriations.
In addition to the Indian nationals leaving Pakistan, the reverse trend was also observed, with 200 Pakistani nationals returning to Pakistan from India. This came after India and Pakistan took reciprocal measures, suspending cross-border movements and revoking previously issued visas. The measures are part of the ongoing diplomatic fallout following the terror attack in Pahalgam, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of the banned Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The terror attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, in the picturesque town of Pahalgam, marked one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack. The assault left 26 people dead, mostly tourists, and several others wounded. The attack prompted an immediate security response and led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
In response to the growing crisis, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi made several decisions on Wednesday, one of which included the closure of the Integrated Check Post at Attari with immediate effect. This move is expected to further limit cross-border movement and further tighten the security measures at the Wagah border, located near the cities of Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that, effective April 27, all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals would be revoked. The MEA also stated that medical visas issued to Pakistanis would remain valid only until April 29. The closure of the Attari-Wagah border and the cancellation of the SAARC visas were mirrored by Pakistan, which also suspended cross-border transit and instructed military advisors at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to leave.
Amidst these developments, some Indian-origin foreign nationals were also impacted. A Canadian Sikh family, residing at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, was reportedly denied entry into India at the Wagah border and advised to travel via air through Dubai instead.
The situation at the Wagah border remains tense, with both countries taking steps to ensure security while dealing with the fallout of the terror attack and diplomatic tensions. As of now, no Pakistani nationals will be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, and any previous visas granted have been rendered invalid.
Sources By Agencies
