GUWAHATI, April 28: As the exit deadline for 12 categories of short-term visa holders ended on Sunday, officials reported that 509 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, left India through the Attari-Wagah border point over three days starting Friday.
Simultaneously, 745 Indian nationals, including 14 diplomats and officials, returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing in Punjab.
The ‘Leave India’ directive was issued by the Indian government following the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, by Pakistan-linked terrorists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
“We have only one Pakistani citizen from Tinsukia district. She is married to a local family. She has applied for a long-term visa. We have requested Government of India to clarify whether or not she should be sent back. That is the only one case; otherwise, we do not have any Pakistani national in Assam,” Sarma told reporters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, contacted all State Chief Ministers, directing them to ensure no Pakistani national remains in India beyond the set deadline.
According to officials, 237 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, exited India through the Attari-Wagah border on Sunday alone. Earlier, 81 individuals left on April 26, and 191 departed on April 25.
Meanwhile, 116 Indians, including one diplomat, returned from Pakistan on Sunday. Similarly, 342 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, crossed back on April 26, and 287 returned on April 25.
Officials mentioned that some Pakistani nationals may have also exited India via airports. Since there is no direct air connectivity between India and Pakistan, it is likely that they travelled via third countries.
The exit deadline for SAARC visa holders was April 26, while for those holding medical visas, the deadline is April 29. The categories required to leave India by Sunday included: visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim, and group pilgrim visas.
Additionally, three Defence/Military, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were declared persona non grata and given one week to leave the country. Five support staff of these defence attaches were also instructed to leave India. In response, India also withdrew its defence attache from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Those holding long-term, diplomatic, or official visas were exempted from the ‘Leave India’ order.
At the Attari border in Amritsar district, a large number of vehicles lined up as Pakistani nationals hurried to return home. Many Indians came to bid farewell to their relatives, with visible emotions marking the painful goodbyes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reiterated to all State Chief Ministers the need to ensure that no Pakistani national overstays beyond the specified deadline.
