In the wake of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, the Union government has cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, ordering them to return home immediately. Close to 1,800 Pakistani visitors currently residing in UP under various visa categories are now expected to leave the country, senior police officials confirmed.
While some have voluntarily begun returning, authorities have warned that those overstaying beyond the deadline will face legal consequences. This order, however, excludes Pakistani nationals who have applied for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar stated that while no official directive has been received yet, all district police chiefs have been alerted, and relevant instructions have been issued. The process of collecting data on Pakistani nationals across the state is ongoing.
Preliminary reports indicate there are 35 in Bareilly, 30 in Rampur, 18 in Bulandshahr, and 10 in Varanasi. Some of these individuals reportedly have close ties with local Muslim families, and a number of them overstay or go into hiding by altering their identities after visa expiration.
A senior police official also flagged the illegal Nepal route often used by some Pakistanis to enter India undetected. Although the number of Pakistani infiltrators is reportedly lower than that of Bangladeshis, some even manage to acquire forged Indian documents, complicating the identification process.
The government has made it clear: compliance is non-negotiable.
Read also: