LAHORE: In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, 23 Indian nationals working as part of the broadcast crew for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 have been repatriated to India. The crew was escorted to the Wagah border crossing in Lahore and sent back following directives from the Pakistani government.
The expulsion of the Indian crew follows an attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists. In response to the escalating situation, Pakistan has taken this step to ensure security and maintain diplomatic control.
India's foreign ministry announced the closure of the Attari and Wagah borders on Wednesday, citing security concerns. As part of the closure, Pakistani nationals are no longer able to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). In turn, Pakistan decided to reciprocate by closing the Wagah Border Post and suspending all cross-border transit from India through this route, effective immediately. Pakistani authorities have given Indian nationals with valid endorsements a window to return by April 30, 2025.
Further tightening the measures, Pakistan has also suspended all visas issued to Indian nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, deeming them invalid unless related to Sikh religious pilgrimages. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan under SVES have been instructed to leave within 48 hours, except for Sikh pilgrims.
The National Security Committee of Pakistan issued a strong statement urging India to halt its “reflexive blame game” and exploitation of incidents like the Pahalgam attack to advance narrow political agendas. It criticized India’s state-controlled media for escalating regional tensions and promoting warlike rhetoric, calling for serious introspection to prevent further volatility in the region.
This move underscores the increasingly strained relations between the two countries, which have been marked by frequent diplomatic and security confrontations.
