14 types of visas cancelled for Pakistani nationals: Who has to leave and by when?

NEW DELHI: India on Friday announced the suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect and revoked all existing valid visas issued to them, except for long-term, diplomatic, and official visas.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries following Tuesday’s terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam’ Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. As part of its countermeasures, the government has revoked most visas issued to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.

Saarc visas will expire on April 26, while medical visas will remain valid until April 29.

Visas of all other categories will cease to be valid after April 27. Any Pakistani citizen who fails to exit India by the specified deadline will be treated as an overstaying foreign national.

Who has to leave and by when

Amid confusion on which visas have been revoked, exit deadlines, and which visas are still valid, the home ministry Friday issued a communication to all state governments, stating:

• Those with SAARC visas have to leave by April 26.
  
• Those with visas on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, pilgrim, group tourist and group pilgrim visas issued to Pak minorities — April 27
  
• Those with Medical visas have to leave by April 29.
  
• From now on, no new visas will be issued to any Pakistani national.
  
• Diplomatic and official visas issued to Pakistani nationals remain valid for now, unless visa holder is expelled.
  

Long-term visas (LTV) remain valid. So, who can get an LTV?

The following categories of Pakistani nationals, coming to India with a valid passport and visa and seeking permanent settlement with a view to acquire Indian citizenship, are eligible:

• Members of minority communities in Pak—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians
  
• Pakistani women married to Indian nationals and staying in India
  
• Indian-origin women holding Pak nationality, married to Pak nationals and returning to India due to widowhood/divorce and having no male members to support them in Pakistan
  
• Cases involving extreme compassion

LTV for 5 yrs at a time may be granted to the first 3 categories. In case of category 4, the initial LTV is granted only for 1 year. Extension of LTV granted on a 2-year basis.

India has also taken a series of diplomatic steps, including declaring Pakistani defence, military, naval and air advisors as persona non grata and ordering them to leave within a week.

Simultaneously, India will withdraw its defence-related advisors and five support staff from its own High Commission in Islamabad. The number of staff at both high commissions will be cut down from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025.

Additionally, the Centre has announced the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and closure of the integrated check post at the Attari border.

Following the closure of the Attari border after the Pahalgam terror attack , many Pakistani nationals began returning home. As per ANI, a Pakistani national who was heading back to Pakistan said, “We have to return within 15 days, while we were on 1.5 months of visa… Islam doesn’t teach murder of innocents… Whoever did this should be hanged on the spot.”