India revokes Pakistani visas after deadly Pahalgam attack—Medical permits valid only until April 29

Why has India suspended visas for Pakistani nationals?

In a significant diplomatic escalation, the Government of India has suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, citing national security concerns following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The move affects all visa categories, including tourist, business, and even medical visas—of which the latter will remain valid only until 29 April 2025. This sweeping policy shift was communicated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), with immediate instructions for Pakistani visitors currently in India to exit before the expiration of their existing visas.

The suspension of visas comes in the wake of a coordinated terrorist strike in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, including one Nepalese national. The attack has reignited tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, particularly as Indian intelligence agencies linked the incident to Pakistan-based militant groups, notably Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. A group identifying itself as The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy for these banned organisations, claimed responsibility for the killings.

What triggered India’s latest diplomatic actions?

The terror attack on 22 April targeted a convoy of tourist buses returning from the pilgrimage route of Amarnath Yatra, a sensitive and high-security zone that has historically been vulnerable to insurgent violence. Indian officials view this particular assault as not only a direct threat to domestic security but also a symbolic attack on religious freedom and tourism in the Kashmir Valley. In response, New Delhi has decided to apply multi-layered pressure through diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people channels.

Among the first measures was a full suspension of visa issuance to all Pakistani nationals. The government has also cancelled all existing visas, except for medical categories which are being phased out by the end of the month. Officials have advised Indian citizens residing in or planning travel to Pakistan to reconsider their plans and return at the earliest opportunity. The move has been described by Indian diplomats as a necessary step in “redefining the terms of bilateral engagement until terrorism is verifiably renounced by Islamabad.”

How does the visa suspension impact bilateral relations?

The decision to revoke and suspend visas represents a sharp deterioration in already strained India-Pakistan relations. Since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which similarly prompted escalatory responses from New Delhi, diplomatic contacts between the two nations have remained minimal. In fact, India’s latest move echoes its 2019 stance, when it revoked the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trade status for Pakistan and imposed a 200% tariff on imports.

In tandem with the visa suspension, India has moved to significantly reduce the size of its diplomatic mission in Islamabad and ordered Pakistani defence attachés to leave the country within seven days. Reciprocal measures are expected from Islamabad, likely resulting in a further scaling down of diplomatic presence on both sides. Additionally, the only land border crossing at Attari has been closed, barring Pakistani nationals from entering except for the purpose of returning home by 1 May 2025.

What precedent does this set for regional diplomacy and border control?

This isn’t the first time India has used visa policy as a geopolitical instrument. Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, visa norms for Pakistani nationals were tightened, and consular exchanges were significantly reduced. These tools serve dual purposes: they act as both a deterrent to cross-border extremism and a diplomatic signal to the international community that India views terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil as state-tolerated, if not state-sponsored.

The recent decision has also been accompanied by India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement that dates back to 1960 and governs water-sharing rights between the two nations. New Delhi has stated that it will not engage in treaty-bound cooperation unless Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” This marks one of the most comprehensive retaliatory frameworks deployed by India in response to a terror attack in the last decade.

What are the international and domestic implications of the move?

From a domestic standpoint, India’s firm response has received broad political support, with leaders across party lines condemning the Pahalgam attack. An all-party meeting convened in New Delhi was briefed by national security and intelligence officials, who presented evidence of cross-border linkages and outlined a roadmap for further preventive action.

Internationally, India has briefed key allies, including the United States, the European Union, and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, on the emerging security situation. The strategic messaging has been clear: until there is a demonstrable shift in Pakistan’s counterterrorism stance, there will be no forward movement in bilateral or regional dialogues.

Although Islamabad has denied any involvement and dismissed Indian allegations as “baseless,” international pressure may mount as more details of the Pahalgam attack investigation are made public. Humanitarian agencies and civil society groups have raised concerns over the implications for patients dependent on medical visas, but the MEA maintains that enough time has been provided for those currently receiving treatment to return home or apply for transfer to a third country.

What lies ahead for India-Pakistan relations?

As of now, both countries remain locked in a cycle of retaliation that is increasingly spilling over into areas once considered immune—like medical access and water-sharing. The closure of the Attari crossing, the reduction in diplomatic presence, and the suspension of longstanding treaties and norms suggest that New Delhi is prepared to leverage every aspect of bilateral ties to signal its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.

While India’s actions are focused on security assurance and deterrence, they carry a cost in terms of people-to-people exchange, cultural diplomacy, and trade. Analysts suggest that the current impasse is unlikely to ease without significant third-party mediation or a unilateral policy shift from Islamabad.

In the weeks ahead, attention will turn to how international institutions such as the United Nations and regional partners respond to the unfolding situation. Meanwhile, Indian agencies continue to tighten security across the Kashmir Valley and along the border, while high-level diplomatic outreach is underway to consolidate global support for India’s counterterrorism narrative.