Emotional crossings at Attari as return deadline ends

The Attari border on Sunday witnessed emotional scenes as families parted ways, their hearts heavy with uncertainty over how long the icy relations between Indian and Pakistan would last. Tears flowed freely as loved ones shared final embraces.

Iranian traveller stuck

Iranian solo traveller Elham Destani, who came to India on a 90-day tourist visa on February 10, was stranded at Attari due to her nationality

Sunday was the last day for Pakistanis having short-term visas in 12 categories to leave India. The deadline for those carrying medical visas is April 29.

Indian citizen Priya Kanwer broke down as her daughter Sarita and son-in-law, both Pakistani nationals, left for Pakistan. Married to a Pakistani in 1991, Priya was denied permission to accompany them, while her husband and children, holding Pakistani citizenship, were allowed to cross. The pain of separation was palpable as anxiety gripped families unsure of when they would reunite. Children sobbed as they were separated from their mothers, their cheeks wet with tears. Many families from Rajasthan had travelled to Attari to bid farewell to relatives visiting from Pakistan.

“Only the reopening of the border can reunite our families,” lamented Gurbaksh Singh, a Pakistani national from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who regretted the sudden separation from his extended family in India, with whom he had trade ties. He expressed frustration that innocent people like him were suffering due to the actions of terrorists who targeted unarmed tourists in Pahalgam.

Under the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Pakistani nationals overstaying their visas now face legal action. While medical visa holders have until April 29 to leave, all others, including those on business, tourist, student and pilgrim visas, had to depart by today, April 27.

The 12 categories of visas holders to leave India on April 27 are visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim.

Amid the chaos, hundreds of vehicles lined up at Attari as Indians arrived to see off their Pakistani relatives. Among them was Elham Destani, an Iranian solo traveller stranded due to the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan. Having entered India on a 90-day tourist visa on February 10, she now found herself caught in the rush of returning Pakistanis, unable to exit before her visa expired. For Elham, India was a second home, where she had earned her master’s and PhD, yet now, she waited anxiously for her turn to cross, her future uncertain.

So far, 1,387 persons, 850 Indians and 537 Pakistanis, have used this border since the government order, issued after the horrific massacre of tourists in Pahalgam.

Punjab