Tensions Prompt Mass Exit via Attari-Wagah Border
A total of 191 Pakistani nationals crossed back into their home country through the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab’s Amritsar district on Friday, following a 48-hour ultimatum from the Indian government for them to leave. The directive came in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, prompting heightened security and diplomatic measures.
The exodus included emotional farewells, such as Indian citizen Zakiya Firdous parting with her Pakistani husband, Sahibzada Munadi Ahmad, at the Integrated Check Post near the border. The surge of departures continued throughout the day, reflecting the urgency of the government’s order. One Indian passport holder, Shaniza, expressed distress to reporters at Attari, stating that she was barred from crossing to join her husband and father-in-law waiting on the Pakistani side of the Wagah border.
The Indian government’s decision to expel Pakistani nationals was part of a broader response to the Pahalgam attack, which also involved suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and closing the Attari-Wagah border. This closure has disrupted the only permissible land route for trade and passenger movement between India and Pakistan.
In addition to the expulsion of Pakistani nationals, India revoked all valid visas for Pakistanis, effective April 27, and banned their travel under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. The Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian nationals to avoid travel to Pakistan and urged those in the neighboring country to return promptly. Medical visas for Pakistani nationals were granted a brief extension, remaining valid until April 29.
The Attari-Wagah border, a critical checkpoint, saw significant activity as both Pakistani and Indian nationals returned to their respective countries. According to the Land Port Authority of India, the Integrated Check Post recorded 71,563 passenger movements in 2023-24, underscoring its importance as a key transit point. Punjab, along with other Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, remains on high alert as tensions persist in the region.