In a swift and sweeping response to the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 innocent lives, the Central Government has cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals currently staying in India. This decision, aimed at tightening security, has cast a shadow of grief and helplessness over more than 1,500 Pakistani citizens residing in Uttar Pradesh.
Across cities such as Bareilly, Varanasi, and Rampur, Pakistani women can be seen with tearful eyes and packed bags, standing in queues at district administration offices or Foreigners Registration Offices (FROs), waiting for instructions on how and when to leave. Many had come to India for family functions, to meet ageing parents, or to celebrate weddings and births — never expecting their joyful visits would be cut short by violence they had no part in.
“I came to see my daughter who gave birth to a baby boy just last month,” said 62-year-old Shabana Parveen from Karachi, holding her grandson in her arms outside an FRO in Bareilly. “I had planned to stay for two more months. Now I must leave in two days — how do I even say goodbye?”
The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed that all Pakistani nationals in India must return home by April 27, with a slight extension granted to those on medical visas until April 29. In Uttar Pradesh, DGP Prashant Kumar has issued orders to district officials to ensure the repatriation process is smooth and timely.
“All concerned district authorities have been directed to complete documentation and facilitate the return of Pakistani citizens by April 27. Those who are in India on medical visas will be allowed time until April 29,” DGP Kumar said. Senior police officials are coordinating closely with local intelligence units to ensure that all foreign nationals are accounted for and that there are no overstays or violations of visa norms. “This is a proactive measure. We are working in coordination with Central agencies to ensure safety and adherence to international protocols,” said a senior official from the State Home Department.
This move is likely to have diplomatic implications, though the Centre has maintained that it is a security-driven decision in response to credible threats. The Ministry of External Affairs is expected to issue a formal statement soon regarding the broader implications of the visa cancellations.
The abrupt decision follows the Pahalgam terror attack, which Indian intelligence agencies believe was planned by Pakistan-based terror groups. In response, security has been tightened across UP, especially in areas with a history of communal tension. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a late-night high-level meeting to review security arrangements and ordered increased drone surveillance and foot patrolling ahead of Friday prayers.
While security officials stress that the move is purely precautionary, the emotional fallout is undeniable.
In Varanasi, 28-year-old Nida Khan sobbed outside the railway station. “I came for my cousin’s wedding. We were supposed to go shopping today. Now I’m heading back, heartbroken and humiliated, as if I did something wrong.”
Local authorities are working round the clock to coordinate logistics, issue travel permits, and ensure dignified departures. Still, the atmosphere remains heavy. Families on both sides of the border are caught between the pain of separation and the fears of escalating tensions.
As India grapples with the security threat, it is the human cost - the mothers, daughters, and grandparents forced to leave loved ones behind - that reminds us how deeply violence scars even those who never picked up a weapon.s