India Gives Pakistanis a Deadline

India will extradite all Pakistani citizens currently in the country under the SAARC visa system within 48 hours. This was announced by Vikram Misri, the First Deputy Minister of External Affairs of India, commenting on the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The SAARC visa facility encompasses 24 categories, ranging from high-ranking officials and judges to journalists, athletes, and business people. However, according to the First Deputy Minister of External Affairs of India, as of now, Pakistani citizens are prohibited from entering the program, and all previously issued visas are being canceled. Pakistani nationals in India will have 48 hours to leave the country.

India also announced a reduction in the number of diplomatic representations between itself and Pakistan. By May 1, 2025, the staff of the highest commissions of both countries will be reduced from 55 to 30 employees. Military advisers associated with the Pakistani mission in New Delhi have also been declared persona non grata and are required to leave India within a week. Similar positions linked to the Indian mission in Islamabad will be eliminated, and the respective staff will be recalled. Five auxiliary staff members from both commissions will also be dismissed.

Among other measures is the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. "It will remain frozen as long as Pakistan does not renounce its support for cross-border terrorism," emphasized Misri. India will also close the Attari border crossing between the two countries.

It should be noted that the sharp measures were prompted by an armed attack in the Pehalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir. Yesterday afternoon, three unidentified individuals opened fire randomly at tourists horseback riding in the Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination. As a result of the attack, 26 people were killed, and a further 13 were injured.