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Attari-Wagah crossing closed, many from Pakistan stranded in India

More than 40 Pakistani nationals gathered at the Attari-Wagah border on May 1, hoping to return to their country.

3 min readAmritsarUpdated: May 2, 2025 07:48 AM IST

India last week cancelled all short-term and special visas to Pakistan nationals in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. (PTI Photo)

The Attari-Wagah border crossing point between India and Pakistan was shut completely Thursday even as people continued to reach there hoping to cross over to the other side. As the gates of the Integrated Check Post remained shut, no Pakistani citizen was permitted to cross over, nor did any Indian national return from the other side.

This happened despite the Home Ministry extending the deadline for closing the border by a day — from April 30 to May 1 — to allow Pakistani nationals to leave India via the ICP at Attari. Both countries are yet to make a statement on those stranded at the border. The ICP authorities have also not given any clarity on their situation.

India last week cancelled all short-term and special visas to Pakistan nationals in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. In response, Pakistan suspended visas issued to Indian nationals.

The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline was April 29. The deadline for 12 other categories of visas was April 27. These were visas on arrival and visas for business, film, journalists, transit, conferences, mountaineering, students, visitors, group tourists, pilgrims and group pilgrims.

Three defence/military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were declared persona non grata on April 23 and were given one week to leave India. Five support staff of these defence attaches were also asked to leave India.

With the gates shut, a long queue of vehicles with Pakistani nationals was seen outside the ICP.

The officials said over 40 Pakistani nationals were not allowed by the customs and immigration authorities to enter the ICP to travel to Pakistan. They said Pakistan, too, shut its border. Consequently, many Indian nationals who were waiting to cross over were left stranded on the Pakistan side.

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Among those stranded on the Indian side were two women — Saida Sameer Fatima and Saida Safeer Fatima — from J&K’s Rajouri. They had come to India in 1983 and had no links with Pakistan since then. They said despite having lived their entire life in India, they were being forcibly expelled. Their relative Murawat Hussain said they have no family in Pakistan and do not wish to leave India.

A woman from Karachi facing deportation refused to return without her child, who holds an Indian passport. In tears, she said she had appealed to be allowed to stay with her child in India or let them both return to Pakistan.

Suraj Kumar, a Pakistani national who was visiting his aunt in Indore, said he did not know April 30 was the last day to leave the country. Sixteen Pakistani Hindus, who had visited Haridwar for the last rites of their relatives, said they reached the ICP late due to vehicle trouble.

Sources said since India does not have direct air connectivity with Pakistan, some people might have left for a third country.

With inputs from PTI

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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