The Indian government has issued an order for all Pakistani citizens in the country to leave by April 29, a move linked to recent tensions arising from a deadly attack in Kashmir.
The announcement, made by New Delhi’s foreign ministry on Thursday, comes in the aftermath of the tragic incident that took place in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this week.
In a statement, the Indian government confirmed that it would suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.
“In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect,” the statement read. “All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended.”
The decision follows a deadly attack on April 22, when gunmen opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam, a popular destination in the Kashmir region.
According to security sources, at least 26 people were killed, making it the deadliest attack on civilians in the area in over two decades. The assault has led to growing tensions between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi holding Islamabad responsible for the violence.
While the order affects all Pakistani nationals, it does not extend to Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi.
However, the Indian government did take steps to reduce the number of Pakistani diplomats earlier in the week, signaling further strain in bilateral relations.
Indian authorities have taken increased security measures in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, with soldiers from the Border Security Force (BSF) stationed at key locations, including the Wagah border post, to prevent any further escalations.
