Identify all Pakistani nationals in your states and send them back: Amit Shah to CMs

Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, asked the Chief Ministers of all the states to identify all Pakistani nationals in their respective states. He further directed all the Chief Ministers to report the list of all Pakistani nationals to the Centre so that appropriate action can be taken and their visas can be cancelled. He has asked the Chief Ministers to ensure their prompt return to Pakistan.

This happened after the Central government announced on Wednesday that Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES). The Centre also said that all Pakistani nationals currently in India under the SVES should leave India within 48 hours.

"Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29. All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended," the government had said in a press release on Wednesday.

Following the Central government's order, visuals of several Pakistani nationals reaching the Attari border to leave India surfaced online.

The decision came in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, including tourists, foreign nationals and locals, on April 22, 2025. The incident took place when the tourists were merely enjoying their holidays with their families in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

A group of armed terrorists then entered the meadow and killed 26 people, allegedly after confirming their religious identities. The mortal remains of the deceased were sent back to their homes on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, protests and candle marches were held across India to mourn the lives that were lost in the attack.