Pakistani Nationals Ordered to Leave India Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions Over Kashmir Attack
In the wake of a deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, India has ordered nearly all Pakistani nationals residing in the country to leave, intensifying already fraught relations between the two neighbors, Arab News reported. The deadline for Pakistani citizens to exit India passed on Sunday, with exceptions only for those holding medical visas. Despite this, many Pakistani families were still seen rushing to the Attari border crossing in Punjab to return to Pakistan. Dozens of Pakistani nationals gathered at the main land border crossing on Wednesday, some arriving voluntarily while others were deported by Indian authorities.
The move follows a brutal attack near Pahalgam in Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. Survivors reported that gunmen targeted Hindu men specifically. India has called the incident a terrorist attack backed by Pakistan, a claim Islamabad denies. The attack was claimed by a previously unknown militant group, the Kashmir Resistance.
Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated rapidly since the attack, with both countries canceling visas, recalling diplomats, and suspending key agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty. Cross-border military exchanges have also increased along the Line of Control, the disputed frontier dividing Kashmir.
India’s cabinet committee on security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has met twice since the attack, with Modi vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, international efforts, including calls from the UN Secretary-General and the US State Department, urge both sides to de-escalate tensions to avoid further conflict. Pakistan has warned of possible Indian military action in the coming days, though India has yet to comment.
