The Indian government has taken strict action against Pakistan after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people. One of the orders asked all Pakistani citizens to leave India within 48 hours. As a result, the number of Pakistanis at the Attari-Wagah border has increased. The deadline for visa cancellations has expired by April 27, which has accelerated the deportation process. So far, more than 200 Pakistanis have left the country. “Whoever sheds blood, it is wrong. We are returning soon,” said Mohammad Jamil, a returning citizen.

Pakistanis who came to the Attari border for medical treatment are also having to return midway. In the last two days, 229 Pakistanis have returned, and 392 Indians have returned from Pakistan. In Maharashtra, 55 SAARC or short-term visa holders have been sent deportation notices. Of the 2,400 Pakistanis in Nagpur, 1,000 are on long-term visas, while the rest are on SAARC visas. 18 people have been ordered to be deported from the Jharkhand area. Police and intelligence agencies are on high alert. “We are strictly following the Centre’s orders,” a Maharashtra official said.

Of the 250 Pakistanis in Uttarakhand, 247 are long-term visa holders, mostly Hindus. Two short-term visa holders have been sent back from Dehradun. “We are conducting the deportations in a targeted manner,” said DGP Deepam Seth. The move reflects India’s tough stance on national security, but has raised concerns for the patients undergoing treatment from a humanitarian perspective. Tensions have escalated since the attacks, further complicating India-Pakistan relations.