India advises citizens to return from Pakistan, suspends visa services to Islamabad

India on Thursday advised its nationals currently in Pakistan to return back to their country, following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s famed tourist resort — Pahalgam. The attack left 26 persons dead and several injured.

The attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, is the first big terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir this year, is potentially the worst attack since 40 soldiers were killed in Pulwama in February 2019. The attack in Pahalgam was carried out on tourists who were having leisure moments in the famed destination’s meadows on Tuesday afternoon.

In an official communique, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid travelling to Pakistan. Those Indian nationals currently in Pakistan are also advised to return to India at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, the MEA’s communique also stated India has decided to suspend visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect.

“All existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27, 2025,” it said.

Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be valid only till April 29, 2025, it added.

“All Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave India before the expiry of visas, as now amended,” it said.