New Delhi, Apr 30 — In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, India has expelled hundreds of Pakistani nationals, prompting a mass exodus across the Attari-Wagah border over the past six days, officials said on Wednesday.
A total of 786 Pakistani citizens, including 55 diplomats, their dependents and support staff, have left India since April 24, alongside eight Indian nationals who were holding Pakistani visas.
The departures followed a government order revoking visas and directing Pakistani nationals to leave the country by deadlines ranging between April 26 and April 29, depending on visa category.
Simultaneously, 1,465 Indian nationals, including 25 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the same border crossing.
Among them were 151 Pakistani-origin individuals holding long-term Indian visas.
“The government had issued a ‘Leave India’ notice following the attack in Pahalgam, in which terrorists linked to Pakistan were involved,” an official said.
“The deadline for various visa categories ranged from April 26 to April 29.”
The crackdown also included the expulsion of three defence advisers—military, naval and air—from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, who were declared persona non grata on April 23.
They, along with five support staff, were given one week to leave. In a reciprocal move, India withdrew its defence attaché from its High Commission in Islamabad.
Exemptions to the exit order were made for holders of diplomatic, official, and long-term visas.
However, those on 12 other categories of visas—including tourist, business, film, journalist, and student—were directed to leave.
Detailed figures reveal the flow of departures and arrivals:
• April 29: 94 Pakistanis, including 10 diplomats, exited India; 469 Indians, including 11 officials, returned
• April 28: 145 Pakistanis (36 diplomats, dependents) left; 146 Indians returned; 129 Pakistani LTV holders entered India
• April 27: 237 Pakistanis, including 9 diplomats, departed; 116 Indians returned
• April 26: 81 Pakistanis left; 342 Indians returned, including 13 diplomats
• April 25: 191 Pakistanis exited; 287 Indians returned
• April 24: 28 Pakistanis left; 105 Indians crossed back
Additionally, 22 Pakistani nationals with long-term Indian visas entered India on April 29. Officials noted that some Pakistani nationals may have exited India via airports, possibly transiting through third countries due to the lack of direct air links between the two nations.
The mass repatriation followed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to all state chief ministers, urging strict enforcement of the exit deadlines.
This was reinforced by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan during a video conference with state chief secretaries.
India’s strong response to the terror attack has further deteriorated already strained ties with Pakistan.
New Delhi’s visa cancellations were met with reciprocal actions by Islamabad, continuing a cycle of diplomatic and security escalation between the two neighbours.
