A day after it announced suspension of visa services to Pakistan nationals, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday directed states to identify people under 14 visa categories — including film, journalist, pilgrim, business — and ensure their prompt return. As a result, states such as Gujarat and Odisha have already begun the process to ensure their departure.
The measure, taken on the back of the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people – mostly tourists, includes medical and student visas but exempts long-term, diplomatic and official visas. “There are 14 categories: visa allowed under SAARC, have a deadline to exit India April 26, visa allowed for business, visa on arrival, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor visa, group tourist visa, pilgrim visa, group pilgrim visa to minorities of Pakistan – have a deadline till April 27, while visa allowed under medical category have a deadline till April 29,” the MHA said in an order to all the states.
At a video conference he held with the chief secretaries of all the states and UTs Friday afternoon, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan sought strict compliance of these orders, officials said. “In his meeting, he informed all the Chief Secretaries that the Centre has revoked all existing visas issued to Pakistan nationals, except Long Term Visas, Diplomatic and Official visas, with immediate effect from April 27. Medical Visa issued to Pakistan nationals will be valid only till April 29,” an official said.
“Ministry of External Affairs and Bureau of Immigration are requested to take appropriate necessary action for compliance of the order,” the MHA said in their order.
Data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, a total of 1,112 Long-Term Visas (LTVs) have been granted to members of minority communities from Pakistan.
Significantly, the move to suspend visas comes as part of a series of retaliatory measures that India has taken in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, in which a group of terrorists shot and killed 25 tourists and a local earlier this week. According to security forces, three of the five militants suspected to be involved in the attack came from Pakistan.
Besides cancelling visas, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, expelled diplomats and senior defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, and closed the Attari-Wagah border.
India shares a 3,323 km land border with Pakistan, running through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab, and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. India has been accusing Pakistan of sponsoring and supporting militancy and secessionist violence in its territory.
“All border forces have been directed to increase vigilance and enhance deployment,” an official said. “We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to counter cross-border infiltration. This includes strengthening border infrastructure, deploying multiple security layers along the International Border and Line of Control, adapting to shifting infiltration routes, constructing and maintaining border fencing and culverts over nullahs, upgrading technology, weapons and equipment for security forces, enhancing intelligence and operational coordination, installing floodlights along the border, and streamlining intelligence sharing to facilitate proactive anti-terror operations in the Valley.”
Meanwhile, the visa policy is expected to hit Pakistan citizens currently visiting India for various reasons, including medical tourism. State intelligence sources in Kerala claim 104 Pakistan citizens are currently in the state, of whom 55 people are on visiting visas.
“We are monitoring the activities of all Pakistan nationals, especially those on long-term visas. People with long-term visas have marital ties in Kerala. Of the 104 Pakistan nationals, a lion’s share is in Kannur district in North Kerala. We will be acting on the general instructions from the Centre,” one source said.
In Gujarat, authorities have ensured the departure of a woman who was visiting Bharuch and six others will similarly leave in the next few days, while Odisha has issued notices to 12 Pakistan citizens, officials in the two states have said.
In Uttarakhand, Additional Home Secretary Nivedita Kukreti said that three Pakistan nationals were staying on short-term visas and two had left the country. “The remaining one has been informed that they need to leave by April 27,” she said.
In Pune, the district administration has said that of the 111 Pakistan citizens identified so far, 90 are on LTV and are mostly Hindus. Others include people on medical visas, officials said.
Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting with the state police following the Centre’s directives. At a press conference he held later, Sawant said three Pakistan nationals on short-term visas have been asked to leave by April 29, adding that there were also 17 others on Long Term Visas.
— With inputs from Sujit Bisoyi from Odisha, Kamaal Saiyed from Surat, Aiswarya Raj from Uttarakhand, Chandan Haygunde from Pune and Pavneet Singh Chadha from Goa
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits the site of the Pahalgam terror attack, in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo) 
Share
