Pahalgam Terror Attack: Expel Pakistanis, Amit Shah directs states after India moves to cancel visas

Pahalgam Terror Attack: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday spoke to all the Chief Ministers of the country and directed them to identify Pakistani citizens living in their respective states. According to officials, this step has been taken in view of the increasing tension between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked the Chief Ministers to send the list of Pakistani citizens to the central government so that their visas can be canceled immediately and they can be sent out of India.

Government took many tough decisions

On April 22, 2025, 25 Indian tourists and a Nepali citizen were killed in a terrorist attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam. This attack is considered to be one of the deadliest attacks in the Kashmir Valley after the 2019 Pulwama attack. India has blamed Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for this attack and has taken several strict steps in response.

Also Read: House of 2 Lashkar terrorists behind Pahalgam attack, destroyed in blast as Army continues hunt

These include suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border post, expelling Pakistani military officials from New Delhi and cancelling the visas of all Pakistani citizens.

Process of visa cancellation

According to Home Ministry sources, Amit Shah asked the Chief Ministers to prepare a list of all Pakistani citizens living in their states and send it to the central government. The government has already announced that all existing visas of Pakistani citizens will be canceled from April 27, 2025, although medical visas will remain valid till April 29, 2025. Apart from this, Indian citizens have been advised to return from Pakistan soon.

Expel Pakistanis

Amit Shah appealed to the Chief Ministers to give top priority to this work and maintain law and order in their respective states. He also said that there should be no delay in the process of identification of Pakistani citizens and cancellation of their visas.

Amit Shah directs states after India moves to cancel visas

According to sources, the central government is working closely with the states in this matter so that this process can be completed smoothly. Diplomatic tension with Pakistan After the Pahalgam attack, India has further downgraded its diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

Also Read: Firing on LoC, many Pakistani posts destroyed in Indian action

Summary

India expelled military advisers of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi and decided to reduce the number of staff of its High Commission in Islamabad from 55 to 30. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and stopped all trade activities with India. Pakistan has called India's decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty an "act of war".