The situation at the Wagah-Attari border continues to be tense and emotionally charged. The sudden separation of families and children has raised humanitarian concerns
NEW DELHI — In scenes filled with sorrow, confusion, and helplessness, hundreds of Pakistani citizens in India rushed to the Wagah-Attari border on Wednesday, desperately trying to cross into their country, following an abrupt Indian government order issued in the aftermath of the 22 April Pahalgam attack.
The attack in the tourist area of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 people and left dozens injured. The government of India responded swiftly the next day, cancelling all valid Pakistani visas and directing Pakistani nationals present in the country to return home within 48 hours. As the deadline loomed, the border near Amritsar turned into a scene of heartbreak and panic.
A Pakistani tourist at the border, his eyes filled with tears, spoke to reporters while clutching his bag tightly.
“My father is still in India, and I have to go back alone. We were not prepared for this. Whether we are Hindus or Muslims, we are brothers. Why is this happening to us?” he said in a shaking voice.
Many others shared similar feelings. A woman, who had travelled from Pakistan to meet her parents in India, pleaded with officials to allow her to return to Pakistan with her children.
“My children are Pakistani and have Pakistani passports. But I am an Indian citizen. Still, I want to return with them. I beg the government to let me go,” she said, sobbing uncontrollably.
She added that her visit was meant to bring joy to her ageing parents.“I just wanted to hug them one more time. I didn’t know it would become such a nightmare.”
People were seen sitting on the ground with their belongings, waiting in long lines for clearance. Some had infants in their arms, while others were elderly people who could barely walk. Border officials tried to maintain order, but the emotions pouring from the crowd made it difficult.
Many Pakistani families had travelled to India for weddings, family visits, or medical treatment. Now, with barely any notice, they were told to pack their bags and leave. Some said they had no homes to return to in Pakistan, while others were in the middle of important medical procedures in Indian hospitals.
Another middle-aged man from Lahore who had come to Delhi for cancer treatment shared his pain. “I have one more round of chemotherapy left. But now I have to go. What should I do? My life is in danger either way,” he said with a helpless smile.
The Indian government has justified its decision by citing national security concerns. All Pakistani tourist, business, and cultural exchange visas were cancelled effective immediately on 23 April, though officials clarified that the visas would technically remain valid until 27 April. Medical visa holders were given a slightly longer window, till 29 April, to complete emergency procedures.
In addition, India has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against travelling to Pakistan. Indian nationals currently in Pakistan have been asked to return home without delay.
The sudden fallout has left many families broken and confused. People from both sides of the border who once worked to keep personal and cultural ties alive now find themselves trapped in politics and suspicion.
A 70-year-old wheelchair-bound woman cried, “I was staying with my daughter in India after my husband’s death. Now where do I go? I don’t even have money for food in Pakistan.”
The woman’s Indian son-in-law added, “We took her in as family. Her visa was legal. But now they want to throw her out overnight. Is this humanity?”
Even border officials, many of whom have seen years of tension between the two nations, admitted they had not seen this level of despair in a long time.
“This isn’t just a border crossing anymore,” said one Indian official at the Wagah check post on condition of anonymity. “It’s become a river of tears.”
According to unofficial estimates, more than 1,200 Pakistani nationals were in India on valid visas at the time of the government’s announcement. Many were visiting relatives, undergoing medical treatment, or participating in cultural programmes.
Rights activists and some political observers have criticised the government’s response, calling it hasty and lacking compassion.
Human rights lawyer Mehmood Pracha said, “Terrorists do not carry nationality or religion. Punishing innocent people because of a terror attack only deepens the divide.”
He further added, “India has always claimed to be a land of dignity and justice. Then why are ordinary people being humiliated like this?”
On social media, the images of crying children, stranded women, and elderly men sitting helplessly at the border have sparked outrage among some sections of the Indian public as well. A post showing a young boy clinging to his Indian grandmother as he was taken back to Pakistan with his father went viral, captioned simply: “Borders can break families.”
One Delhi-based student wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “You can fight terrorists without hurting common people. This is not security, this is cruelty.”
The Pakistani government, meanwhile, has not issued a direct statement about the treatment of its citizens in India but has reportedly increased security around Indian diplomatic staff in Islamabad.
Back in India, political groups aligned with right-wing ideologies such as the BJP and ABVP have applauded the government’s decision, labelling it “necessary for national security.” However, their opponents have called it nothing but “vote bank politics.”
A professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University said on the condition of anonymity: “What message are we sending to the world? That we can’t differentiate between a terrorist and a tourist? These are desperate people, not enemies.”
For many Pakistanis now heading home, there is no certainty about what awaits them. Jobs, shelter, and healthcare are all uncertain. But what is certain is the heartbreak they carry with them.
“We came here with love in our hearts,” said an elderly man while boarding a bus to the border. “And we are leaving with wounds that may never heal.”
The situation at the Wagah-Attari border continues to be tense and emotionally charged. Security has been tightened, and entry is being allowed only after strict checks. Most Pakistani citizens are being processed and sent back in small groups to avoid chaos.
Many families, especially those with members holding Indian passports, are now caught in a legal tangle. The sudden separation of families and children has raised humanitarian concerns, with lawyers and rights groups appealing for a more humane approach.
As one local Punjabi volunteer who had come to help distribute food and water to the waiting families said, “Today, politics has won and humanity has lost. These people are not our enemies. They are just poor souls who wanted to visit their loved ones.”
This heartbreaking episode has once again shown how political decisions, when taken without care for human lives, end up causing real pain. In the name of security, innocent lives are being torn apart. As the dust settles, it remains to be seen whether voices of reason and compassion will be heard on either side of the border.
