A day after India announced the cancellation of all existing visas issued to Pakistani nationals, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday directed all Chief Ministers to immediately identify and remove any Pakistani citizens residing in their respective states.
The directive came following a high-level meeting chaired by Shah with senior officials, during which he emphasised the urgency of the situation and asked state governments to take swift action to deport Pakistani nationals.
This decision is part of a series of strict measures adopted by the Centre in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where Pakistan-backed terrorists opened fire on tourists, killing 26 people.
Following the attack, the Indian government ordered all Pakistani citizens currently in the country to leave by April 27. Those on medical visas have been granted a brief extension, with the deadline set for April 29.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Thursday confirming the suspension of all visa services for Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. The MEA further issued a strong advisory urging Indian citizens not to travel to Pakistan under the current circumstances. These actions follow decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
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India’s latest steps against Pakistan also include halting operations under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and closing the Attari land-transit post, reflecting a comprehensive diplomatic and strategic response.
The Centre has accused Pakistan-based terror outfits of orchestrating the attack, which specifically targeted Hindu tourists. Eyewitnesses recounted that the attackers deliberately singled out Hindu males, forcing them to recite the Azan before executing them.
One woman survivor said that the terrorists emerged suddenly and began firing indiscriminately. While some attackers opened fire, others forcibly grabbed Hindu men and made them recite Islamic prayers before shooting them.
She said her father and uncle were among those killed, and that one of the attackers told her to "go tell Modi," indicating a politically charged motive behind the violence. The terrorists reportedly claimed their religion was under threat due to the presence of Hindus, further underscoring the communal and extremist nature of the attack.
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