Will India’s decision force Pakistani Hindus to return too? Here’s what the Government said

April 24, 2025 – New Delhi

Will Pakistani Hindus in India return too: Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday, the Indian government has taken a tougher stance against Pakistan. One of the key decisions is to send back Pakistani nationals currently living in India. This has raised concerns about the fate of Pakistani Hindu refugees who have been living in India for several years.

Addressing the issue, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that this new policy will not affect Pakistani Hindus who are already living in India on long-term visas (LTVs). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that while India has suspended visa services for Pakistani citizens from April 24, 2025, this suspension does not apply to those holding valid LTVs. These visas will remain valid, and the holders will continue to be allowed to stay in India.

Also read: Pakistan opens fire along Line of Control (LOC), India retaliates

This makes it clear that the government’s new policy targets only certain categories of Pakistani nationals and does not apply to Pakistani Hindus who are already residing in India with proper documentation.

In a similar stance, the Indian government has also taken a tough position on the Indus Waters Treaty. In a letter sent by Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee to her Pakistani counterpart Syed Ali Murtaza, India has announced the decision to suspend the treaty with immediate effect.

The letter mentions that this decision follows earlier notices from India seeking amendments to the treaty under Article 12(3). India argued that the agreement needs to be revisited in light of growing population demands, the need for clean energy, and changing assumptions about water sharing. The Indian government has also accused Pakistan of violating the treaty and ignoring India’s repeated calls for dialogue.