India scraps SAARC visa for Pakistanis: Understanding the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme.

India has withdrawn all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and suspended fresh visa services following a terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, launched in 1992, allowed select individuals to travel across the region without a visa. The scheme originated from the Fourth SAARC Summit in Islamabad in December 1988 and allowed unrestricted travel within member states.

New Delhi, April 25, 2025 — In response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, India has suspended all visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. This decision comes in the wake of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which took place on Wednesday evening [1].

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that all existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27, 2025. Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals will remain valid only until April 29, 2025. Pakistani nationals currently in India must leave the country before the expiry of their visas, as amended [1].

The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), launched in 1992, allowed select individuals such as dignitaries, lawmakers, senior officials, business leaders, journalists, and sportspersons from member nations to travel across the region without a visa. However, following the Pahalgam attack, India has suspended this privilege for Pakistani nationals and directed those already in the country under the scheme to leave within 48 hours [2].

The Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect, and those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025 [1]. The decision to suspend visa services and close the Integrated Check Post is part of India's response to the seriousness of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development [1].

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has linked the recent Pahalgam terror attack to Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) narco-trafficking strategy, backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), aiming to fund operations and destabilize India by distributing narcotics. Security agencies have identified four suspected terrorists involved in the attack [3].

In addition to suspending visa services, the government has advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return to India at the earliest and urged others to avoid travel to the country. The government has not yet disclosed how many Pakistani nationals are currently in India on valid visas [1].

References:
[1] https://morungexpress.com/india-suspends-visa-services-to-pakistani-nationals-with-immediate-effect
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/immigration/india-scraps-saarc-visa-for-pakistanis-what-is-the-scheme-decoded-125042500764_1.html
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/from-mundra-port-to-pahalgam-probe-agency-finds-rs-21000-crore-drug-link-between-gujarat-and-kashmir-terror-attack/articleshow/120581800.cms