Government of India suspends visa services for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect
New Delhi: In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.
According to reports, all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27, 2025.
Further it is worth mentioning that, the medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29 2025. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) further informed that, the Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest.
In addition to the above instructions following the Pahalgam terror attack, the CCS further decided. India decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
India has also decided to close the integrated Attari Check Post with immediate effect. Furthermore, the country has decided to cancel any visas issued under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and has ordered Pakistan to leave the country within 48 hours.
India declared the Defence/Military, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission persona non grata and ordered them to leave India within a week.
As a security measure, India has decided to withdraw its own Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.
The overall strength of the high commissions will be reduced to 30 from the current 55 through further reductions, effective as of May 1, 2025. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the decisions in a press briefing on Wednesday after the CEC meeting. (ANI)
