Any Pakistani, who fails to leave India as per the deadlines set by the Government, will be arrested, prosecuted and may face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of a maximum Rs 3 lakh or both, according to the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025.
As many as 509 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, left India in three days beginning Friday through the Attari-Wagah border point as the exit deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation ended Sunday, officials said. A total of 745 Indians, including 14 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab.
The ‘Leave India’ notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the Government after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline is April 29. The 12 categories of visas whose holders have to leave India by Sunday are — visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police is carrying out verification of nearly 6,000-7,000 Pakistani nationals staying here following a Centre directive issued after a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam district. According to sources, the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) passed the list to the police’s special branch, which has forwarded it to district units for verification. Most listed individuals have had their visas revoked, except those holding Long-Term Visas (LTVs), especially Hindu Pakistani nationals, who are exempt.
Sources said authorities are verifying overlaps in two separate lists of 3,000 and 2,000 names. The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed visa revocations effective April 27, excluding medical, diplomatic, and LTV categories.
Most Pakistani nationals told the media that they had come to India to meet their relatives. Some had arrived to attend weddings but were now forced to return without attending. The visas of Pakistan nationals have been revoked in the wake of the recent directive of the centre, prompted by a recent terrorist attack on tourists in the Pahalgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which came into effect on April 4, overstaying, violating visa conditions, or trespassing in restricted areas could lead to three years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh. “Whoever,-(a) being a foreigner, remains in any area in India for a period exceeding the period for which the visa was issued to him or stays in India without a valid passport or other valid travel document in contravention of provisions of Section 3 or does any act in violation of the conditions of the valid visa issued to him for his entry and stay in India or any part thereunder;“(b) contravenes any other provisions of this Act, other than sections 17 and 19, or of any rule or order made thereunder or any direction or instruction given in pursuance of this Act or such order or direction or instruction for which, no specific punishment is provided under this Act, shall be punishable with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to Rs 3 lakh or with both,†the Act says.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday called up the chief ministers of all states and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the
deadline set for leaving the country. After Shah’s telephonic conversations with the chief ministers, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a video conference with the chief secretaries and asked them to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked must leave India by the fixed deadline.
