Amritsar: The Attari-Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan was completely shut on Thursday, following a surge in cross-border movement over the past week prompted by India’s directive for Pakistani citizens on short-term visas to leave the country. The order followed the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, which claimed 26 lives — mostly tourists — and was linked to Pakistan-based militants.

According to official sources, no cross-border movement occurred at the Attari-Wagah point on Thursday. The closure comes after 125 Pakistani nationals departed India via the crossing on Wednesday, taking the total number of such departures in the past seven days to 911. Additionally, 15 Indian citizens with valid Pakistani visas also crossed over into Pakistan on Wednesday, bringing the total number of such Indian departures to 23.

At the same time, a notable number of individuals also entered India. In the past week, 1,617 Indian nationals and 224 Pakistani nationals holding long-term Indian visas arrived via the same crossing point in Punjab’s Amritsar district.

The Indian government had issued a “Leave India” notice for Pakistani citizens following the Pahalgam attack. The exit deadline varied by visa category — holders of SAARC visas were to leave by 26 April, medical visa holders by 29 April, and 12 other visa categories, including business, student, tourist, journalist, and pilgrim visas, had a deadline of 27 April.

Diplomatic tensions escalated further with India declaring three Pakistani defence attaches persona non grata on 23 April and ordering them to leave within a week, along with five supporting staff. India also withdrew its own defence attaché from the High Commission in Islamabad.

Those with long-term, diplomatic, or official visas were exempted from the order.

From 24 to 30 April, hundreds of Pakistani nationals exited India daily through the Attari-Wagah crossing, including several diplomats and their dependents. Notably, 237 left on 27 April alone, while 145 departed on 28 April.

Simultaneously, Indian nationals have been returning from Pakistan in significant numbers. On 29 April, 469 Indians — including 11 diplomats — crossed back into India, while 342 returned the day prior.

The Pakistani side also continued to send nationals into India under long-term visa arrangements, with 73 entering on 30 April alone. However, sources noted that some Pakistani nationals may have left India via air routes to third countries, as there is no direct flight connectivity between the two nations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted the chief ministers of all states on 25 April, urging strict compliance with the exit orders. This was followed by a high-level video conference chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, instructing state officials to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas had been revoked left the country before the deadline.

The latest developments have pushed Indo-Pakistani relations to a fresh low, with both countries adopting reciprocal diplomatic and administrative measures in response to the Pahalgam attack.