The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier issued a directive to halt all civilian and commercial activities at the Attari border which triggered concerns among those caught in transit, especially Pakistani nationals with valid travel documents.
Amid the strict border restrictions post-Pahalam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has granted relief to Pakistani citizens stranded in India, allowing them to return to their country via the Attari Border. The development comes despite an earlier order to completely suspend all movement and trade across the border starting May 1.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier issued a directive to halt all civilian and commercial activities at the Attari border which triggered concerns among those caught in transit, especially Pakistani nationals with valid travel documents. However, in a show of humanitarian sensitivity, the Indian government has now allowed the border to remain open for Pakistani nationals needing to return home due to valid reasons.
Seveal Pakistanis reach Attari border
On Thursday morning, several people had arrived at the Attari border unaware of the revised movement status. The Border Security Force (BSF) initially held back their exit due to a lack of formal communication, but with the latest clearance from the authorities, the process for their departure has now resumed. With the revised order now in place, Pakistani nationals at the border expressed relief and gratitude, as they were once again permitted to leave.
Amid tightened security measures, a significant number of Indian and Pakistani nationals crossed borders between the two countries during the period from April 24 to April 30. According to official data, a total of 926 Pakistani citizens returned to their home country while 1,841 Indian nationals made their way back to India in the last one week.
