Lahore (TDI): The Wagah-Attari border was formally closed on Wednesday following the expiry of a deadline set for the repatriation of the nationals and long-term visa holders residing in Pakistan and India, as tensions heightened between the two nations.
A significant number of citizens from both nations were still stranded on either side of the border. Though no official policy has yet been revealed for them, but two options are on table; granting extension to complete the repatriation process or starting deportations, according to The Express Tribune.
Last Wednesday, India announced several steps after falsely blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22 that killed 26 tourists. India did not provide any proof against Pakistan.
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The actions included the Indus Water Treaty suspension, lowering the diplomatic relations, closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, cancelling of visas issued to the Pakistani nationals and closure of the Wagah-Attari border.
Over the past seven days, 891 Pakistani citizens, including fifty eight diplomats, their families, and support staff, returned from India, while 1,687 Indian citizens, including twenty nine diplomats and officials left for their country.
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On Wednesday alone, 110 Pakistanis, including 3 diplomatic staff members, arrived, while 222 individuals, including 4 Indian diplomatic personnel left for the home country.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
