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 the 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, making two major announcements, among others. A statement by the Pakistan government said it “shall exercise the right” to put all bilateral agreements – including the key Simla agreement – on hold. Pakistan’s airspace will also be closed for all Indian airlines with immediate effect.
After a meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan also said, “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty… will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power.”
Pakistan said it is closing the Wagah Border Post and suspending all cross-border transit from India through this route.
In other, tit-for-tat, measures, Pakistan said it is suspending all visas under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, except for Sikh religious pilgrims. It asked Indians in the country holding such visas to leave within 48 hours.
Pakistan also declared Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisors in Islamabad “persona non grata” and asked them to leave by April 30.
“The strength of Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be reduced to 30 diplomats and staff members, with effect from 30 April 2025,” the statement said.
