New Delhi asks all Indian nationals in Pakistan to return at the earliest
India on Thursday (April 24, 2025) announced the revocation of “all existing valid visas” issued to Pakistani nationals with effect from April 27 as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam attack.
“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. 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,” the External Affairs Ministry said, announcing that the “Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.”
Pahalgam terrorist attack
India had on Wednesday announced a five-pronged response targeting Pakistan against the backdrop of the attack. On Wednesday, it announced that the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with “immediate effect” saying that “those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025”.
Misri briefs envoys
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday briefed the India-based envoys of the G-20 nations about the Indian response to the terror attack.
Diplomatic sources who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity said Mr. Misri’s briefing indicated that further Indian actions would “depend on how the other side reacts”.
The briefing focused on the extent of the terror attack in Pahalgam that left at least 25 Indian citizens and a Nepali citizen dead. The envoys were told that the attackers were “hardcore terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border” and that India is uncovering links between terrorists and their backers in Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources said Mr. Misri shared that investigators had identified one of the attackers, but did not mention his nationality. He informed about the “communication platforms” that were used during the attack and that authorities here used facial recognition technology to identify the attackers. India has identified that one of the killers was involved in a similar attack in Jammu and Kashmir in the past.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and condemned the terror strike. “PM Netanyahu strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian soil. He expressed solidarity with the people of India and the families of the victims. PM Modi shared the barbaric nature of the cross-border terrorist attack and reiterated India’s firm resolve to bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, adding that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had also spoken to Mr. Modi regarding the attack in Pahalgam.
Pahalgam terror attack: India revokes visas issued to Pakistan nationals; Foreign Secretary briefs envoys of G-20 nations
New Delhi asks all Indian nationals in Pakistan to return at the earliest
India on Thursday (April 24, 2025) announced the revocation of “all existing valid visas” issued to Pakistani nationals with effect from April 27 as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam attack.
“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. 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,” the External Affairs Ministry said, announcing that the “Government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.”
Pahalgam terrorist attack
India had on Wednesday announced a five-pronged response targeting Pakistan against the backdrop of the attack. On Wednesday, it announced that the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with “immediate effect” saying that “those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025”.
Misri briefs envoys
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Thursday briefed the India-based envoys of the G-20 nations about the Indian response to the terror attack.
Diplomatic sources who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity said Mr. Misri’s briefing indicated that further Indian actions would “depend on how the other side reacts”.
The briefing focused on the extent of the terror attack in Pahalgam that left at least 25 Indian citizens and a Nepali citizen dead. The envoys were told that the attackers were “hardcore terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border” and that India is uncovering links between terrorists and their backers in Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources said Mr. Misri shared that investigators had identified one of the attackers, but did not mention his nationality. He informed about the “communication platforms” that were used during the attack and that authorities here used facial recognition technology to identify the attackers. India has identified that one of the killers was involved in a similar attack in Jammu and Kashmir in the past.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and condemned the terror strike. “PM Netanyahu strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian soil. He expressed solidarity with the people of India and the families of the victims. PM Modi shared the barbaric nature of the cross-border terrorist attack and reiterated India’s firm resolve to bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, adding that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had also spoken to Mr. Modi regarding the attack in Pahalgam.
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