SAARC visa exemption scrapped for Pakistan after attack

In the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 28 tourists, the Government of India has revoked the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals. The move, announced following a high-level security review chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requires all Pakistani citizens currently in India under the scheme to exit the country within 48 hours.

The attack, reportedly carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba—has prompted India to take a series of stringent diplomatic and security measures against Pakistan.

What is the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme?

The SVES, established to promote regional cooperation among SAARC member states, allows designated categories such as officials, parliamentarians, journalists, and business leaders to travel between countries without a visa. Its cancellation for Pakistani nationals marks a significant diplomatic shift in South Asia.

Additional Measures Announced

• Visa Suspension: India has suspended all categories of visas issued to Pakistani nationals, including tourist, business, and journalist visas. Medical visas will remain valid only until April 29.
• Diplomatic Downgrade: All Pakistani diplomats have been declared persona non grata and asked to leave India within seven days. Simultaneously, Indian diplomatic staff are being withdrawn from Pakistan.
• Border Restrictions: The Attari-Wagah land border crossing has been closed to all movement, except for the repatriation of nationals.
• Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance: India has also decided to place the Indus Waters Treaty under abeyance, marking the first time such a step has been taken since the treaty's inception in 1960.

Government Statement

A senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “This decision is a firm message that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism. The SVES was a symbol of regional goodwill; its misuse by hostile actors cannot be ignored.”

Impact and Outlook

This development significantly strains Indo-Pak relations and casts uncertainty over future diplomatic engagement within the SAARC framework. Security agencies across India remain on high alert, and additional checks have been imposed at major transit points.

The Ministry has urged all Pakistani nationals to comply with the 48-hour deadline and is coordinating with embassies for the orderly departure of those affected.