Exit Deadline Ends Today; Emotional Farewells as Pakistan Nationals Rush Home via Attari

Chandigarh, April 27: Tearful scenes unfolded at the Attari border on Sunday as Pakistani nationals hurried to leave India before the exit deadline. Among them was teenage Sarita, devastated because her Indian mother was not permitted to travel with the family to Pakistan. “My mother’s an Indian citizen, and they won’t let her go with us,” she sobbed, uncertain when they might reunite.

The deadline for Pakistani visitors in India on SAARC visas expired on April 26, while others, except those on medical visas, were required to leave by April 27. Medical visas remain valid until April 29. The strict deadlines come amid escalating tensions following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

At the border in Amritsar district, lines of vehicles stretched as Pakistanis rushed to return home. Many Indians were there to bid emotional goodbyes to their visiting relatives.

Sarita’s family had arrived for a wedding scheduled for April 29. It had been nine years since their last visit. Sarita, her brother, and father are Pakistani citizens, but her mother holds an Indian passport. “My parents married in 1991. Now they’re telling us Indian passport holders cannot cross over,” she said through tears.

Many Pakistani visitors told news agencies that they had come to India to reunite with family or attend celebrations but were now forced to leave abruptly. One man from Jaisalmer shared that his relatives visiting from Pakistan’s Amarkot after 36 years had to depart hurriedly, missing out on meeting many family members.

The Indian government has warned that overstaying beyond the deadline will result in legal action under the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Seventy-year-old Janam Raj from Peshawar lamented that his first-ever visit to India was cut short. “I came on a 45-day visa three weeks ago. I never imagined it would end like this,” he said.

Mohd Arif from Delhi, who came to see off his aunt, condemned the Pahalgam attack, calling for harsh punishment for the perpetrators. Similarly, Mohd Salim from Karachi, who was visiting India on a 45-day visa, had to urgently return.

Gurbax Singh from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, spoke of his pain, saying that while half his extended family resides in India, innocent visitors are now bearing the consequences of the terror attack. “The terrorists have committed a crime against humanity,” he said, noting that many Pakistanis who had come for medical treatment are also being forced to leave.

Relations between India and Pakistan, already tense, worsened dramatically after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which India blamed on Pakistani-backed elements. In response, India swiftly revoked visas and imposed new measures, prompting retaliatory actions from Islamabad.