After a recent att_ack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, the Indian government has put new travel restrictions in place for citizens of Pakistan. One of the biggest steps taken is the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals.
This decision was announced by India’s Foreign Secretary. As a result, all visas that were previously issued to Pakistani citizens under the SVES have now been cancelled. People from Pakistan who are already in India using this visa have been asked to leave the country within 48 hours.
These actions were decided during a high-level security meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting was held in response to the recent attack, which led to the deaths of several people and raised serious concerns about safety and security.
The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme is a regional agreement that allows certain citizens from SAARC countries (like Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc.) to travel more easily within the region. Suspending this scheme for Pakistan shows how serious the Indian government is about tightening border and travel security after the incident.
At the same time, emergency contact numbers have been shared for both local citizens and tourists who are currently in Jammu & Kashmir. This is to make sure that anyone who needs help can quickly reach the authorities.
These new travel measures could impact many people, especially those who had planned to visit India or were already in the country for work, family, or tourism. Officials have advised all affected individuals to make travel arrangements as soon as possible.
This move highlights the growing tension between India and Pakistan and shows how national security concerns are now affecting even diplomatic and regional travel agreements.
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