Mass Exodus: Over 450 Indians Return Home Amid Visa Cancellations Post-Pahalgam Attack

Significant Movement at the Wagah Border

Lahore: In the past three days, over 450 Indian nationals have returned to India through the Wagah border after their visits were abruptly cut short due to visa cancellations following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

On Saturday, 23 individuals, part of a broadcasting team for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, were among those who crossed back into India, according to officials.

The total number of Indians who crossed over on Saturday will be confirmed later.

On Friday, approximately 300 Indians made their way home, while around 100 returned on Thursday via the same route.

Simultaneously, around 200 Pakistani citizens have also returned from India.

The tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 resulted in the deaths of 26 people, marking the deadliest attack in the region since the Pulwama incident in 2019. The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for this attack.

In response, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi decided to immediately close the Integrated Check Post at Attari.

The Attari-Wagah border serves as a crucial crossing point between Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan.

Following the attack, New Delhi revoked SAARC visa privileges for visiting nationals, a move that was quickly mirrored by Islamabad.

In Pakistan, individuals with long-term visas, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and those with 'No Objection to Return to India' stamps were barred from crossing the border.

Reports indicate that some Indian-origin foreign nationals, including Sikh families, were prevented from entering Pakistan by Indian immigration and security officials.

An Indian-origin Canadian Sikh family residing near Nankana Sahib, approximately 80 kilometers from Lahore, was reportedly denied entry into India at the Wagah border and advised to travel by air via Dubai.

On Thursday, 105 Indian and 28 Pakistani citizens also returned to their respective countries.

Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), and any previously issued visas to them are now considered void.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that all valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals by India will be revoked effective April 27, with medical visas remaining valid only until April 29.

In a reciprocal action, Islamabad closed the Wagah border post, canceled visas issued to Indians under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), and requested military advisers at the Indian High Commission to depart.

Pakistan stated, 'All cross-border transit from India through this route shall be suspended, without exception. Those who have crossed with valid endorsements may return through that route immediately but not later than April 30.'