Chandigarh, April 26 – ‘Ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack but save common people from suffering its consequences.’ This was the common protest among Pakistani tourists on the Attari-Wagah road route, who were in a rush to get out of India before a short deadline.
India has announced that all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be cancelled from April 27 and has advised Indians living in Pakistan to return home as soon as possible, as tensions between the two countries escalated over the Pahalgam terror attack. The attack killed 26 people, most of them tourists.
Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals valid till April 29
Most of the Pakistani nationals said they were visiting their relatives in India. Some had come here to attend weddings but are now having to return home without taking part.
“Today was my niece’s wedding. I came after 10 years but still could not attend the function,” said a visibly upset Bhaskari, a resident of Karachi. She had come with her husband from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Her husband, Mohammad Rashid, said they had come to India on April 10 on a 45-day visa. “My wife was born in India and my in-laws live here. The wedding was to take place in Saharanpur today. The police came to our relative’s house and asked us to leave immediately.”
“It is painful to go on the day of the wedding. … Whatever happened in Pahalgam is wrong. Those responsible for this should be severely punished, but the common people should not be disturbed,” said Rashid. “People who commit such acts have nothing to do with religion,” he said. "Common people on both sides love each other. A handful of terrorists spoil the atmosphere." Bali Ram, who came from Ghotki in northern Sindh, Pakistan, said he had gone to Raipur to meet his three daughters. "I came on April 5 but now I have to run back," he said. "Those who did this should be punished, but what is the fault of the innocent tourists?" Daulat from Karachi was in Jodhpur on a 45-day visa for a wedding. He said as he dragged some trolley suitcases towards the exit gate, "Whatever happened (in Pahalgam) is not good. It should not have happened." An elderly man from Rawalpindi said that he had come to Lucknow for his relative's wedding but now had to abandon the journey midway. So far, 229 Pakistani nationals who came to India after the Centre set a deadline have returned home via the Attari-Wagah border. Officials said that a total of 392 Indian nationals who had travelled to the neighbouring country have also returned.