MEA advises avoiding travel to Pakistan, calls for Indian citizens in Pakistan to return

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday announced that India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect following the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. 

“All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from 27 April 2025. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till 29 April 2025. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended,” read a statement issued by the MEA.

It also mentioned that Indian nationals are “strongly advised” to avoid travelling to Pakistan, adding that those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India “at the earliest”.

Recognising the seriousness of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the CCS, which had met Wednesday evening under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had decided that the Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. 

Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled and any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa had 48 hours to leave India.

Similar to India, Pakistan has also suspended SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVEC) for Indian citizens, and has closed Attari Integrated Check Post from its side.

India also decided to hold in abeyance with immediate effect the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.

The CCS also announced that the Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect and those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025.

As many as 28 people, mostly tourists, were killed and several others injured in the Pahalgam terror attack.