INDIA – As India and Pakistan tensions rise after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India has officially cancelled all Pakistani visas effective immediately, and given all Pakistani nationals 72 hours to leave the country.
In their press release, the Indian government stated that all Pakistanis currently in India must leave before the expiry of their visas, which will last until April 27, when cancellation of all visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals takes effect.
Medical visas will be effective until April 29, thus the advised timeframe for leaving India before the period given for the revocation of all Pakistani nationals’ visas.
India has also advised its citizens who’re currently in Pakistan to return home as earliest as possible.
Travel of Pakistanis to India has been banned.
Pakistan Retaliates Against India
Pakistan has always claimed Jammu and Kashmir is its territory and have ever considered the Indian control of the territory as illegal occupation.
After the J&K terror attack in Pahalgam, a tourist hub in the region, tensions between the two neighbors were reignited, with each nation accusing the other for harboring terrorists that act against the other’s interests.
After India’s suspension of Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan claimed that “any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of national power.”
After various acts were undertaken by India against Pakistan in response to the terror attack, Pakistan also has retaliated in various actions as summarized below:
- Wagah Border Post closure
- Cancellation of all visas under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) issued to Indian nationals with immediate effect
- Closing its airspace for Indian owned and operated airlines
- Suspension of all trade with India including to and from any third-party country through Pakistan
Pakistan also stated that its “armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding that it will “never allow anyone to transgress its sovereignty, security, dignity and their inalienable rights”.
We’ll keep you in the know as situation unfolds.