In the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack on April 22 that has claimed the lives of 26 people, the government of India has cancelled visas of Pakistani nationals and has been deporting them to Pakistan. Many among them have been living in India for decades now and even hold identification proofs such as Aadhaar Card and Ration Cards. They are all pleading with Indian authorities to reconsider the decision.
‘I have voted in polls’
One young man, who is doing his graduation in computer science, even claims to have voted in polls while living in India.
“I cannot say anything as of now. My thought process at the moment is not working. I am totally blank,” Osama, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science, told ANI.
He added, “I wanted to appear for job interviews after my examinations… I have been staying here for the last 17 years. I came here in 2008 legally by applying for a visa and within 15 days got a stay on our visa.”
“I appeal to the government to give us some time. I have cast my vote here, I have my Aadhaar card, ration card from here. I have the status of a domicile resident. I have completed my Class 10th and 12th here, what will I do there? What is my future there?” he expressed.
“Whatever happened there (Pahalgam) is wrong. I condemn this incident. It is a very shameful act. Whoever committed this heinous act must be brought to justice,” Osama went on to say.
#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
‘How will our 8YO live without his mother?’
Iram, a resident of Karachi, who has been caught in the crossfire, has an eight-year-old son. “Families are devastated. This is against basic human rights. We are being forcefully evicted from India. I can’t imagine how I would live in Pakistan without my husband and my son,” India Today quoted Iram as saying.
She was deported to Pakistan after her passport application was rejected twice, and her long-term visa application was cancelled.
Her husband, Shahbaz, told India Today, “How will a child stay without his mother? Should I go to work or take care of the child? What has the child done that he has to be separated from his mother?”
‘What have we done to deserve this?’
Another Pakistani national, Parween Akhtar, said that she has been living in India for over four decades now, and asked why they are bearing the brunt of the crisis. “It has been 40 years since I have been in India. I have three children, all of whom have studied here. What wrong have we done that we are given such a strict punishment?” Akhtar, who was seated on a bus on the Attari border, which will take her to Pakistan, told ANI.
She added, “We condemn the Pahalgam terror attack. They should be punished, but why are we suffering because of this?”
#WATCH | Attari, Punjab: Parween Akhtar, a Pakistani national returning to Pakistan via Attari Border, says, "It has been 40 years since I have been in India. I have three children, all of whom have studied here. What wrong have we done that we are given such a strict… pic.twitter.com/CZ4mxb8xAe
— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2025
‘I have applied for Indian nationality’
Another woman, Rakshanda, who is returning to Pakistan via Attari Border, said that she had been living in India for over three decades now and that she had even applied for Indian nationality long back, but hasn’t heard back from the authorities yet.
“They immediately told me at 9:30 PM to cross the border. I am married to an Indian national and have my family here. I have been living here for 35 years now. What have I done to deserve this?” she said.
An emotional Rakshanda added, “I don’t want to cross the border. I want to live in India with my son and daughter.”
As per a report by India Today, more than 680 Pakistani nationals have been deported from the Attari border after the Indian authorities revoked their visas following the horrific attack on non-local tourists in the Valley.
PM Narendra Modi has been chairing back-to-back meetings to take stock of the situation, days after the terror attack in Valley. After holding a meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Security with Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh & NSA Ajit Doval, the Prime Minister will be holding the CCPA meet with Rajnath Singh, Shah and JP Nadda. He will later meet the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, and later today, a full Cabinet Meeting.
With growing calls for a response from the Indian government after the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the armed forces full operational freedom on Tuesday. He held a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Prime Minister has placed his full trust in the Indian military’s abilities and promised full political support for any action they choose to take.