India has decided to downgrade its bilateral relations with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack — announcing a series of measures, including suspending the Indus Water treaty “in abeyance”, cancelling most visas and recalling diplomats.
The government announced a March 27 deadline for Pakistani nationals residing in India, asking them leave the country amid heightened tensions.
Around 786 Pakistani nationals have left India through the Attari-Wagah border since April 24. However, behind the numbers lie stories of heartbreak and separation.
Several deportees who had to leave India were living in the country for decades, leaving behind their families or careers.
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On Tuesday, two days after the March 27 deadline, several Pakistani nationals were taken in a police bus by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for deportation.
A Pakistani woman, who was one of the several deportees, said she has been living in India for 35 years after her parents passed away. She was married to an Indian national and was hopeful of getting citizenship after all the years.
“I’ve been here for 35 years… I used to live in Islamabad. In 1989, my father and mother passed away. This is my cousin, and I got married here to him… I’ve applied for a visa, I’ve applied for citizenship.. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just sit here and stay,” the woman said.
Attari, Punjab: A Pakistani national was taken in a police bus by the J&K Police for deportation, following the Pahalgam terror attack
She says, “I’ve been here for 35 years… I used to live in Islamabad. In 1989, my father and mother passed away. This is my cousin, and I got… pic.twitter.com/JuN4QH5YiU
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2025
Her husband said that they married in 1989 and that no one foresaw how things would change in the future.
“We got married in 1989. There was no militancy, no free movement, nothing. No one knew what the situation would be like tomorrow. We got married, and she came here. Our security forces and agencies have stated that there is a rule requiring her to stay in India for seven years. After that, she can apply for citizenship. Accordingly, she stayed continuously for seven years in Jammu. After completing those seven years, we applied for citizenship. The document is here with me,” he said.
Attari, Punjab: The husband of a Pakistani woman says, “We got married in 1989. There was no militancy, no free movement, nothing. No one knew what the situation would be like tomorrow. We got married, and she came here. Our security forces and agencies have stated that there is… pic.twitter.com/Kb4X4kypEK
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2025
Osama, a Bachelors student from Uri, said he has been living in India for the last 17 years and urged the government to give him some more time.
“I am living in Uri and I am from Rawalpindi in Pakistan… I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I am in my final semester and I had my exams in June. I was preparing to appear for job interviews after my examinations,” Osama said.
“Suddenly this thing happened and I am very disturbed. I am a Pakistani national and I came to India through legal means. I have been living in India for the last 17 years. I appeal to the government to give us some time. There should be some solution for this. I have cast my vote here, I have my ration card and Aadhaar Card. Now, where will I go from here,” he said.
#WATCH | Attari, Punjab: Osama, a Pakistani national returning to Pakistan via Attari Border, says, “…I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree. I wanted to appear for job interviews after my examinations. I have been staying here for the last 17 years. I appeal to the… pic.twitter.com/S8dTV92fhC
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Mufzala, another Pakistani national from Muzaffarabad, said she got married in Baramulla six years ago and had been living in India on a long-term visa.
“I got married in Baramulla 6 years ago. Both my kids were born here. We were staying here legally through a long-term Visa. We have been filing our application for the last 3 years, but it has never been accepted. The day before yesterday, we were suddenly asked to leave the country,” she said.
#WATCH | Attari, Punjab: Mufzala, a Pakistani national returning to Pakistan via Attari Border, says, “I am from Muzaffarabad and I got married in Baramulla 6 years ago. Both my kids were born here. We were staying here legally through a long-term Visa. We have been filing our… pic.twitter.com/C2yRTMxsiK
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
Ira is one of the Pakistani nationals returning to Pakistan via the Attari Border. She said she got married ten years ago in Delhi and now had to leave the country because of the Pahalgam attack.
“My Visa expired during Covid…I am a NORI visa holder, but I have been asked to leave the country because of the attack (in Pahalgam). Whatever happened there is absolutely wrong, but we should not be punished for this,” she said.
A NORI visa is issued by India to Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals who have close relatives holding Indian citizenship.
Another Pakistani woman said she has been living in India for 41 years. She said that she was being punished because of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
“I have young doctors. I have to leave them behind. I am from Karachi. I have no idea why we are asked to leave. A terrorist attack took place in Kashmir, but why are we being punished? I have been staying here for the last 41 years,” she said.
“Whatever is happening is not right. We don’t stand with them. Their (terrorists’) legs should be broken and they should be hanged…I appeal to the Govt that whatever is happening with us is not right,” she added.
Those in the deportation list included a police personnel and his eight siblings, including five sisters, who were shifted from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab for immigration.
The nine members of the extended family were among the more than two dozen people, mostly from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), who were served deportation notices by authorities in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts.
The police personnel, Ifthkar Ali (45), and his eight siblings including five sisters aged between 42 and 56 years got a respite when the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh admitted their petition claiming that they are not Pakistani nationals and have been living in Salwah village for generations.
Several Sindhi Hindus from Pakistan, who were living in Ulhasnagar in Maharashtra, were also asked to return to their home country.
The 17 Pakistani Hindus had left Pakistan due to alleged atrocities against Hindus and to secure Indian citizenship.
However, the Bharatiya Sindhu Sabha of Ulhasnagar is helping the Pakistani nationals obtain long-term visas so that they can extend their stay in India.
