KARACHI: India has said its decision to cancel visas issued to Pakistanis will not apply to Hindus from the neighbouring country who have long-term permits to stay in the country.

India’s Cabinet Commi­ttee on Security, on Wedn­esday, decided to cancel visas issued to Pakistanis under the Saarc Visa Exemption Scheme. The Pakistani nationals in India were given 48 hours to leave the country.

In a clarification issued on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said the decision “does not apply to the Long Term Visas already iss­ued to Hindu Pakistani nationals, which remain valid”.

Meanwhile, Air India has announced that its flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an “alternative extended route” after Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...