Pahalgam: India suspends visa exemption for Pak nationals
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New Delhi: The Indian government has suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, among the many severances of key diplomatic ties with Pakistan New Delhi following the deadly Pahalgam attack.
SVES, introduced in 1992, was designed to facilitate easier regional travel among member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It allowed individuals in 24 designated categories, such as government officials, judges, parliamentarians, business leaders, journalists, and sportspersons, to travel within SAARC nations without needing a visa.
These individuals were issued special 'Visa Stickers' by their respective governments, typically valid for one year. These stickers enabled them to travel freely across SAARC countries without restrictions tied to city-specific permits or additional documentation like police reporting.
This scheme was intended to strengthen regional integration, improve diplomatic connectivity, and promote people-to-people ties across South Asia.
Now that SVES has been withdrawn for Pakistan, all previously issued visa stickers to Pakistani nationals have been cancelled. NDTV reported that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that all Pakistan nationals under the scheme in India must leave the country in 48 hours.
The diplomatic offensive India launched following the attack included the expulsion of Pakistan’s Defence, Navy, and Air advisors stationed in the High Commission in New Delhi. The mentioned were granted a week to leave the country.
India is going to recall own service advisors and five associated staff from its High Commission in Islamabad.
India suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and shut down the Attari-Wagah border. India asked the Pakistan nationals to exit the country by May 1, The Free Press Journal reported.
