Suspension of Visa services for India Pakistan: 14 types of visas were canceled for Pakistani citizens: Who to leave and since? , Bharat News
New Delhi: India on Friday announced the suspension of visa services for Pakistani citizens with immediate effect and canceled all the existing valid visas issued to them, except long -term, diplomatic and official visas.
The tension between the two countries increased after Tuesday’s terrorist attack on tourists at Pahgam ‘Besaran Meadow in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming the lives of 25 Indian citizens and a Nepali citizen. As part of its counselor, the government has canceled most of the visas issued to Pakistani citizens with immediate effect.
The SAARC visa will end on April 26, while the medical visa will remain valid till 29 April.
Visa of all other categories will stop legal after 27 April. Any Pakistani citizen who fails to exit India from the specified time limit will be considered as a foreign national.
Who to leave and how long
Amidst the confusion, on which the visa has been canceled, to get out of the deadline, and which visas are still valid, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday released a communication to all state governments, stating that:
- People with Sarak Visa will have to leave by 26 April.
- Arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, students, visitors, pilgrims, group tourist and group pilgrims with visas were issued to Pak minorities with visas – 27 April
- People with medical visas have to leave till 29 April.
- From now on, no new visa will be released to any Pakistani national.
- Diplomatic and official visas issued to Pakistani citizens are valid for now, until the visa holder is expelled.
Long -term visas (LTV) are valid. So, who can get a LTV?
The following categories of Pakistani citizens are coming to India with a valid passport and visa and demanding permanent settlement in terms of getting Indian citizenship, are eligible:
- Members of minority communities in Pakistan- Hindus, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsis, Christian
- Pakistani women married Indian citizens and stay in India
- Indian original women who have Pakistani nationalism, married Pakistan citizens and returned to India due to widowed/divorce and there were no male members to support them in Pakistan.
- Cases related to excessive compassion
For 5 years at a time, LTV can be given the first 3 categories. In the case of category 4, the initial LTV is provided for only 1 year. The LTV was expanded on 2 years basis.
India has also taken a series of diplomatic steps, including Pakistani defense, military, navy and air consultants to declare personality non -Gretta and order to leave them within a week.
Along with this, India will withdraw its defense-related advisors and five assistant employees from its High Commission in Islamabad. The number of employees in both high commissions will be cut from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025.
Additionally, the Center has announced the shutdown of the Indus Water Treaty suspension and the unified check post on the attic border.
After the Attari border shutdown after the Pahalgam terror attack, many Pakistani citizens started returning home. According to ANI, the Pakistani citizen who was going back to Pakistan said, “We have to return within 15 days, while we were on a 1.5 -month visa … Islam does not teach the killing of innocent people … Whoever did so should be hanged on the spot.”
