In the aftermath of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani government has directed all Indian nationals currently residing in Pakistan to leave the country by April 30, 2025. The decision was taken after a high-level meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC).

According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office in Pakistan, Indian citizens who entered the country with valid documentation must return using the same route before the stipulated deadline. Those in Pakistan under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) have been ordered to exit within 48 hours, with all such visas now considered null and void.

This move comes amid a series of retaliatory measures between the two nations. Earlier, India suspended the SVES for Pakistani nationals and closed the Integrated Check Post at Attari. These decisions were finalized during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The diplomatic fallout continues to deepen, with observers noting that the suspension of the SVES by both countries eliminates one of the last remaining formal links for cultural and official exchanges. The halt of movement at the Attari check post further restricts cross-border connectivity.

Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have deteriorated sharply since the Pulwama-Balakot standoff in 2019.