Foreign Office denies Indian media claims of Pakistanis stranded at Wagah

The Foreign Office debunked the reports of Indian media regarding the closure of the Wagah Border for Pakistani nationals, stating, "we are open to receiving our citizen."

The rumours about Pakistani nationals stranded at Attari were against facts, according to the Foreign Office. 

The statement came after The Times of India claimed that Pakistan “refused” to open the gate of the Wagah border, “leaving dozens of its people and those deported from India stranded in the no-man's-land of diplomatic deadlock.”

It reported,“No Pakistani nationals were allowed to cross the border, Indian officials said, though Afghan trucks were granted entry into India. Pakistan's foreign ministry cited brotherly relations with Afghanistan, highlighting the selective nature of the border movement.”

Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Office, spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan rejected Indian media’s claims and said that the Indian authorities’ decision to revoke the visas of Pakistani nationals caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the region. 

“Many patients with fragile health had to return to Pakistan without completing their treatment,” he stated, adding, “There are reports of families being split and children being separated from one of their parents.” 

Shafqat said the deadline for crossing over through the Wagah-Attari border was April 30, 2025, but “we are aware of the media reports indicating that some Pakistani nationals are stranded at Attari” due to the closure of the Pakistani side.

Read: Govt to bear medical expenses for two children forcibly repatriated from India despite having medical visa

“We are open to receiving our citizens if the Indian authorities allow them to cross the border from their side,” he clarified. 

“The Wagah border will remain open for Pakistani citizens in the future as well,” FO spokesperson added. 

Notably, the mass repatriation at Wagah was seen after the deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, leaving 26 people, mostly tourists, killed. 

India has attributed the attack to cross-border links without evidence. In this regard, India revoked the visas of Pakistani nationals and ordered them to leave the country by April 29. 

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