- NEW DELHI — Following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam
that left 26 dead, Pakistani nationals currently residing in India have begun
returning to their country through the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar after
the Indian government suspended visa services for them as a strong response to
the attack.
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- The attack, carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a
proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has ignited a
wave of public and diplomatic outrage across India. As part of its response,
the Indian government gave Pakistani nationals in the country until Sunday to
leave, setting April 30 as the final date for their leaving.
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- A long queue of vehicles formed at the border as Pakistanis
waited for clearance from the Border Security Force (BSF) to cross over.
Also read: NIA takes over Pahalgam terror attack probe
Pakistan open for 'neutral, transparent and credible investigation' into Pahalgam terror attack: PM Shehbaz Sharif
- Many expressed sadness over the abrupt end to their visits,
emphasising that innocent people with family ties across the border are often
caught in the crossfire of political and security tensions.
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- One Pakistani woman returning after visiting Jodhpur shared,
“I was here for a month. I got married in Pakistan 15 years ago. It feels
strange to leave like this.”
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- Another Pakistani national, visibly emotional, said, “Yes,
we heard about the attack initially, and of course, all this is happening
because of that. It’s unfortunate we have to leave for such a reason. It's hard
to believe that we’re really going back. Such incidents should not happen. Both
governments should take precautions so innocent people like us aren’t
affected.”
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- A man who had come to India to meet his sons remarked, “I
had come to see my children who live here. They told me about the incident.
What happened in Pahalgam was very wrong.”
