New Report:
Following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, diplomatic tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan. The Indian government has revoked visas issued to Pakistani nationals, prompting Pakistan to announce it will allow its stranded citizens to return via the Wagah border.
On Friday, over 70 Pakistani nationals were reported to be stranded at the Attari border after their Indian visas expired. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed awareness of the situation, stating it is ready to accept its citizens if India permits their passage. “The Wagah border will remain open for our nationals seeking return,” a MoFA spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India stepped in to protect six members of a family facing deportation to Pakistan. The court directed authorities to verify the family’s identity documents and refrain from taking coercive action until a final decision is made. The family, originally from Kashmir and with a son working in Bengaluru, argued that they possess valid Indian documents but were still taken to the border for deportation.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh noted the human dimension of the issue and granted the family the liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court if needed. The court was hearing a petition from Ahmed Tarek Butt and his family, who are among those affected by the Centre’s April 25 notification that ordered the revocation of Pakistani visas, except for limited exemptions.
On the international front, U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth expressed solidarity with India and reaffirmed its right to self-defence. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in response, accused Pakistan of a longstanding history of sponsoring terrorism. This marked the first direct and high-level reference to Pakistan in the wake of the attack.
The United Nations Security Council may also consider the matter if formally raised, according to Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, the Council’s President for May.
In an emotional appeal, Himanshi Narwal—wife of Lt. Vinay Narwal, a naval officer killed in the attack—called for peace and justice. “We don’t want people going after Muslims and Kashmiris. We want those who harmed him to be punished,” she said.
As the situation unfolds, both humanitarian and geopolitical concerns remain front and center, with legal, diplomatic, and emotional ramifications playing out across borders.
