Following terror attack in Pahalgam, Centre directs crackdown; Delhi Police tasked with verifying identities and ensuring repatriation.
New Delhi [India], April 27:
In a major security move, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has identified around 5,000 Pakistani nationals currently residing in Delhi and has shared the list with the Delhi Police for verification and necessary action to facilitate their return home.
This directive follows the Centre’s recent order to revoke visas of Pakistani nationals, a decision prompted by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) passed the list to the Delhi Police’s Special Branch, which has distributed it to district units for verification and identification.
Officials clarified that Hindu Pakistani nationals holding Long-Term Visas (LTVs) are exempt from the visa cancellation order.
“The list has been handed to district authorities for verification, and Pakistani nationals are being asked to return to their homeland. Central and North East Delhi have recorded the highest numbers of Pakistani nationals,” a senior official said.
Top-level meetings have been held to oversee the process, with senior officers monitoring developments closely. Special Branch officers, alongside IB personnel, have been tasked with gathering detailed information and expediting the repatriation process.
Another official mentioned that two separate lists—one with around 3,000 names and another with 2,000—have been compiled, though some overlap exists. Verifications are ongoing as several Pakistani nationals have reportedly already departed.
On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered the revocation of Pakistani visas, excluding Medical, Diplomatic, and Long-Term Visas, effective April 27, 2025. Existing medical visas will become invalid after April 29, 2025. The government clarified that LTVs granted to Hindu Pakistani nationals remain unaffected.
Estimates suggest that around 900 Pakistani nationals reside near Majnu Ka Tila and another 600-700 near the Signature Bridge area.