Hindu Pakistani Long-Term Visas Remain Valid Amid Service Suspension After Pahalgam Attack, MEA Clarifies

The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the revocation of visas does not apply to Long Term Visas (LTVs) issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals.

By : ABP Live News | Updated at : 24 Apr 2025 11:30 PM (IST)

Pakistan Embassy in Delhi.
Source : PTI

The Ministry Of External Affairs on Thursday announced a clarification regarding the restrictions on visa in the wake of Pahalgam attack. The government clarified that the revocation of visas does not apply to the Long Term Visas (LTVs) that have already been issued to Hindu Pakistani nationals.

The clarification by the government comes after it decided to downgrade the bilateral ties with Pakistan that included suspension of visas, abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty, among others. The recent statement by the ministry comes after the centre has decided to revoke visas given to the Pakistani nationals by India with effect from April 27. The medical visas issued to the Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29.

New Delhi has also advised the Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest, as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

The punitive measures against Pakistan were decided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27. It said medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29.

The MEA said all Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of visas. It also strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Pakistan. In continuation of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the government of India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect, the MEA said in a statement.

In its response to India's measures, Pakistan on Thursday announced shutting its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspended trade with New Delhi, including through third countries. Pakistan also rejected India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any measures to stop the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the pact will be seen as an act of war.

Amid nationwide outrage over the terror strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued to the ends of the earth as he promised to identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. In an address at a rally in Bihar's Madhubani, Modi vowed to punish the terrorists behind the strike and said India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers, he said.

Also read
India Suspends Visa Services To Pakistani Nationals After Pahalgam Terror Attack

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Published at : 24 Apr 2025 11:30 PM (IST)
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Pahalgam Attack MEA On Visa

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