Hisar, April 25: A day after the Centre ordered Pakistani nationals to leave India within 48 hours following the Pahalgam terror attack, 15 members of a Pakistani Hindu family, residing in Hisar district, Haryana, were relocated to a Pakistani camp in New Delhi for security reasons.
Shesh Karan, in charge of the Balsamand police post, confirmed on Friday that Haryana Police had escorted the family for their safety. The family had been living in Balsamand village for the past eight months.
“The police took them to Delhi for security reasons,” Karan said in a phone call.
While the Union government had canceled the visas of all Pakistani nationals on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Thursday that the revocation did not affect long-term visas (LTVs) issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals.
“The revocation of visas does not apply to long-term visas issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals. These visas remain valid,” the MEA stated in its release.
The family, headed by 72-year-old Sobho, had been living in a private hospital room in Balsamand.
Their visa, which had expired in August 2024, was extended after a request to the Indian government.
A senior police officer from Hisar, requesting anonymity, confirmed this extension, saying, “Their visa expired on August 25 last year. However, the government approved their plea to stay on, leading to the visa extension.”
Contrary to rumors, Sub-Inspector Shesh Karan denied reports that the family’s visa had expired. “The claims that their visa expired are false,” Karan said, adding that he could not disclose the exact duration of their visa’s validity.
The family’s arrival in India was facilitated by Shamsher Singh, a Balsamand resident, who, along with his Delhi-based friend Hari Om, had been assisting displaced Pakistani Hindu families.
These families had been affected by demolitions in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district in 2023. “Sobho and his family faced harassment in Pakistan.
After their visa application in 2024 was approved, they moved to Balsamand, where Shamsher and Hari Om helped them settle,” the senior officer revealed.
This relocation comes amidst rising tensions and security concerns following the terror attack in Pahalgam, with authorities taking extra measures to ensure the safety of foreign nationals in India.
