Wagah border sees emotional farewells as 536 Pakistanis return home from India

As the deadline for Pakistani citizens to leave India expired on Sunday, 536 Pakistanis returned to their homeland, while 849 Indian nationals crossed back into India through the Wagah border.

Many families on both sides of the border remain hopeful of eventually returning to their homes. Meanwhile, amid rising tensions, India instructed farmers in the border areas of Indian Punjab to harvest their crops within two days.

The Border Security Force (BSF) issued directives in the villages of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka districts, urging farmers to vacate fields near the Zero Line within 48 hours.

Defense experts suggest that these actions reflect growing war rhetoric under Prime Minister Modi. On Sunday, 236 Pakistanis returned to Pakistan, while 115 Indians returned to India.

After the Pahalgam incident, the BJP-led government in India took hostile measures, including suspending visas, closing borders, and attempting to suspend the Indus Water Treaty, all without providing any evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the incident. Islamabad also responded accordingly.

India clarified that long-term visas issued to Pakistani Hindu citizens will remain valid. However, Pakistani nationals holding SAARC visas were ordered to leave India by April 26, while those with medical visas were given a deadline of April 29.

The 12 categories of visas that required holders to leave India by Sunday included, visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim, and group pilgrim.

Read: “Act of war:” Pakistan suspends visas, closes air space over New Delhi’s hostile measures

Emotional scenes were witnessed at the Wagah border as many were distressed by the sudden separation from their loved ones, as the Indian government falsely accused Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack, leading to innocent civilians suffering the consequences of its actions.