Pahalgam aftermath: 537 Pakistani nationals left India in 4 days as deadline ends
Pakistani citizen Sita holds her child in her arms, as they prepare to leave India | Reuters
As many as 537 Pakistani nationals left India through the Attari-Wagah border in the last four days as the exit deadline for short-term visa holders from the neighbouring country ended on Sunday.
New Delhi suspended the short-term visa for Pakistani nationals on April 24 and directed them to leave the country in four days.
Those carrying medical visas can stay in the country till April 29.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of the ghastly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Quoting officials, PTI reported that 237 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, left India on Sunday, 81 left on April 26, 191 on April 25 and 28 on April 24.
According to officials, some of the Pakistanis might have travelled to a third country since India does not have direct air connectivity with Pakistan.
India had suspended visas for Pakistani nationals in 12 categories: visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim.
Meanwhile, a total of 850 Indians, including 14 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing in the last four days.
The relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours hit a new low after the terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives.
India alleged the role of Pakistan-based terrorists in the attack and announced a slew of punitive measures against the country, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
India