In a significant diplomatic move, the Government of India has announced the immediate revocation of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals. This decision follows a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, predominantly Indian tourists. The attack, attributed to the militant group "Kashmir Resistance," has intensified already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. [1]
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), all categories of visas granted to Pakistani nationals stand canceled with immediate effect. However, medical visas already issued will remain valid only until April 29, 2025. Pakistani citizens currently in India have been directed to leave the country before their visa expiry dates, as amended. [2]
In addition to the visa revocations, India has taken several other measures in response to the attack:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: India has decided to hold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, a move Pakistan has labeled as an "act of war." [3]
- Closure of the Attari-Wagah Border: The integrated check post at the Attari-Wagah border has been closed with immediate effect, halting land-based travel between the two countries.
- Diplomatic Expulsions: India has declared the Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission persona non grata, ordering them to leave within a week. India will also withdraw its own military advisors from the High Commission in Islamabad.
In retaliation, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian flights, suspended trade relations, and canceled visas for Indian nationals. Both nations have engaged in symbolic deportations across the Wagah-Attari border and increased military readiness along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
The United Nations has urged both countries to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation. However, domestic pressures and rising nationalist sentiments in both India and Pakistan complicate diplomatic efforts.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, concerned about the potential for further conflict between these two historically adversarial nations.
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