Pahalgam attack: How other tie will be affected after India closes Wagah-Attari route, cancels Pakistan SAARC visa

To cut cross-border movements and tighten entry into the country, India has taken major measures to target travel from Pakistan in diplomatic consequences to Pahargam attacks.

These include the closure of comprehensive inspection positions in Attari and the removal of the SAARC Visa Waiver Scheme (SVE) privileges for Pakistani nationals – considered a coordination step to limit access to the Pahalgam after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Together, these moves block key formal channels where Pakistani citizens can legally enter India, highlighting New Delhi’s intention to respond with diplomatic and border control actions in the face of security threats.
Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said on Wednesday: “Attari’s integrated checkpoint will end immediately.

The closure of the major land trade route between India and Pakistan The border crossing at Atari-Waga marks a significant escalation in India’s response to cross-border terrorism. Located in Amritsar, India and Wagah, Pakistan, the border has historically been an important channel for trade and cross-border interaction, and is the only open route for goods and passengers.

It is expected that its closure will undermine the flow of goods between the two countries, thus greatly affecting bilateral trade. Beyond trade, boundaries have been a key point in contact and historical movement, such as displacement during the 1947 partition. Now, its closure highlights the intensification of India’s diplomatic stance on its support for terrorism against Pakistan’s state.

Pakistan SAARC visa holder is expelled

Misri further confirmed that Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC visa waiver scheme, a special provision that allows certain categories of individuals, such as officials, MPs and diplomats to travel free of charge in Saarc countries.

“Any SVE visa issued to Pakistani nationals in the past is considered cancelled,” Misri said. “Any Pakistani national in India currently has 48 hours left the country under an Indian visa.”

Originally designed to promote regional cooperation and connectivity, the SAARC visa waiver program is now the latest casualty in the deteriorating India-Pakistan relations.

SAARC or the South Asian Regional Cooperation Association is a regional organization designed to promote economic and regional integration among South Asian countries. SAARC focuses on cooperation in areas such as trade, development and cultural exchange. The eight members of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The measures come after a series of diplomatic downgrades announced after the Emergency Cabinet Security Committee (CCS) meeting, including the expulsion of Pakistani military advisers and the evacuation of Indian defense personnel from Islamabad.