India halts Pakistani visas, Shuts Attari-Wagah Border post terror attack
After the Pahalgam attack, India has taken strong action against Pakistan and suspended visas of Pakistani citizens with immediate effect. The Attari-Wagah border has been closed and the Beating Retreat program at the border has also been stopped. The Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian citizens to avoid travelling to Pakistan.
New Delhi: On Thursday, Pakistan declared an immediate halt to visa services for its citizens as a retaliatory measure against Islamabad following the Pahalgam terror attack. India has also blocked the official account of the Pakistani government. Additionally, the Attari-Wagah border has been shut down and the Beating Retreat ceremony at the border has been suspended.
The beating retreat ceremony at the Ferozepur Sainiwala border has also been cancelled. Additionally, all valid visas previously issued by India to Pakistani nationals have been revoked as of April 27, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Medical visas issued to citizens will remain valid only till April 29. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all Pakistani nationals in India should leave the country before the expiry of their visas. It advised Indian citizens to avoid travelling to Pakistan and advised those in Pakistan to return to their country as soon as possible. The Indian government has decided to close the Attari-Wagah border with immediate effect after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Under this decision, the visas of Pakistani nationals have been canceled and they have been directed to leave India within 48 hours.
In the meantime, a family from Bhopal who had arrived at the Attari-Wagah border to see their relatives was sent back by the BOSSF. On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced at a press conference that India has implemented several stringent actions in response to the Pahalgam attack. These actions include shutting down the Attari-Wagah border, halting the Indus Water Treaty, and revoking visas of Pakistani nationals.