India revokes SAARC visa privileges for Pakistanis after Pahalgam terror attack
text_fields
In a decisive move following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the Indian government has revoked the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) privileges for Pakistani nationals and instructed those currently in the country under this scheme to leave within 48 hours.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to the media, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the committee had been briefed on the attack and its apparent cross-border connections. The assault came shortly after the successful conclusion of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a region showing steady economic progress and development.
Highlighting the decisions taken by the CCS, Misri said, "Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. Any SVES visas previously issued to Pakistani nationals stand cancelled. Individuals currently in India under this scheme must exit within 48 hours."
The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme allows specific categories of individuals — such as senior officials, parliamentarians, judges, businesspeople, journalists, and sportspersons — to travel between member nations without standard visas. Pakistanis will now be excluded from this privilege.
India has also announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, stating it will remain halted until Pakistan provides credible and irreversible evidence of withdrawing support for cross-border terrorism.
In another firm step, India will shut down the Integrated Check Post at Attari, restricting cross-border transit. Pakistani nationals who entered India through this route with valid permissions may return via the same channel before May 1.
India also declared all defence, naval, and air attachés in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as "persona non grata." These officials have one week to leave the country. India will similarly withdraw its corresponding defence staff from its High Commission in Islamabad. Alongside, five support staff members from each mission will be withdrawn.
Further reducing diplomatic presence, India has decided to cut the staff strength at both High Commissions — in New Delhi and Islamabad — from 55 to 30 personnel each, effective by May 1.
Foreign Secretary Misri also noted the international support India has received in the aftermath of the attack, calling it a reflection of the global community's zero tolerance towards terrorism.