In a baffling move amid surging Indo-Pak tensions, Pakistan on Thursday shut the Wagah border, effectively refusing entry to several of its own nationals who were cleared by Indian authorities to return. The development came in the aftermath of the devastating April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives, pushing bilateral ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors to a new low.
Pakistanis Stranded on Indian Soil with No Explanation
Over a dozen Pakistani citizens, including the elderly and women, were left stranded at the Attari-Wagah border crossing, as Pakistani authorities failed to provide any official communication or reasoning for sealing the gate.
Among them was Suraj Kumar, who had come to India ten days prior on a 45-day visa to accompany his elderly mother on a pilgrimage to Haridwar. “We were told to return early after the terror attack. But when I reached Attari at 6 am, the gates were shut. No one is explaining anything,” Suraj told reporters in anguish.
Harsh Kumar, another Pakistani citizen waiting since dawn, echoed the frustration. “The stress is unbearable. India allowed us to leave, but our own country won’t open the gate for us.”
Families Divided, Emotions Run High
The diplomatic impasse didn’t just affect Pakistani citizens returning home. Naamra, an Indian woman married to a Pakistani national, stood helplessly at the sealed border, longing to reunite with her husband and daughter in Lahore.
“My family is on the other side. I am ready with my visa and clearances, but I’ve been stopped at the gate. I just want to be with my family,” she said, fighting back tears.
India Allows Exit, Pakistan Closes Entry
Following the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government issued an order directing all Pakistani nationals holding short-term visas to leave the country. Despite the abruptness of the decision, Indian authorities made arrangements to facilitate the departure of those affected.
On Wednesday alone, 125 Pakistani nationals exited India through the Attari-Wagah border. This brought the week-long exit total to 911 Pakistani nationals. Additionally, 15 Indian citizens who had Pakistani visas also returned.
In contrast, Pakistan sealed the border and gave no indication of cooperation. This act of unilateral border shutdown has drawn criticism from human rights advocates and observers who stress the humanitarian cost of such diplomatic retaliations.
Visa Cancellations Add to the Chaos
India had announced staged exit deadlines post-April 22:
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SAARC visas expired on April 26
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Twelve other visa categories lapsed by April 27
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Medical visas were valid until April 29
Those caught in this administrative shift rushed to the border, only to be met with Pakistan's inexplicable refusal to receive them.
In total, 1,617 Indian nationals and 224 Pakistani nationals holding long-term Indian visas have entered India through the Amritsar crossing since tensions rose. But outbound movement now faces a full stop from the Pakistani side.
Pahalgam Attack and Its Diplomatic Fallout
The Wagah shutdown is just one manifestation of the diplomatic crisis triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack. The assault on April 22 targeted tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s scenic region, leaving 25 visitors and one local dead — the deadliest civilian attack in the region since Pulwama in 2019.
India retaliated diplomatically by:
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Downgrading ties with Pakistan
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Pausing the Indus Waters Treaty
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Expelling Pakistani military attachés
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Closing Indian airspace to Pakistani aircraft
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Sealing the Attari-Wagah border
Pakistan responded with tit-for-tat measures, including suspending the Simla Agreement, adding fuel to a volatile scenario.
JD Vance and US Involvement
Amid this backdrop, US Vice President JD Vance, who was on a four-day visit to India during the attack, urged restraint. He hoped India’s response wouldn’t escalate into broader regional conflict and stressed Pakistan’s responsibility to cooperate in hunting down terrorists possibly operating from its soil.
The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also engaged with Indian and Pakistani leaders, advocating for de-escalation and coordination on terrorism investigations.
Final Thoughts: Caught in Crossfire
While governments engage in strategic maneuvering and diplomatic posturing, it is the common people — tourists, pilgrims, students, and families — who bear the brunt. The sealing of the Wagah border without reason, especially at a time when both nations agreed on safe passage for civilians, underscores how political tensions often eclipse humanitarian needs.
With no word from Islamabad, the stranded remain stuck in no-man’s land, holding onto their luggage and hope, as the barbed gates of diplomacy remain shut.