Pahalgam attack: Attari-Wagah border shuts completely, some Pak nationals remain stranded in India

The crossing was closed from both sides after India said it was planned and executed by the deep state in Pakistan.

Both governments closed border crossings and revoked visas in the first round of diplomatic restrictions following the deadly attack.

Over the past days, Indian authorities have rounded up hundreds of Pakistani nationals in the country on tourist, medical, or other visas, to eject them.

On Wednesday, 24 hours before the border was sealed, 125 Pakistani nationals crossed over, taking the total since Thursday last to over 1,000, including diplomats and support staff.

However, on Thursday afternoon, shortly after the Attari-Wagah border was sealed, a small number of Pakistani nationals, who were sent to the crossing by Indian immigration, could not return home.

It seemed that Pakistani authorities refused to open the gate for their citizens.

In TV visuals from the border, the Pakistani nationals who should have left India were seen held up on the Indian side of the border, arguing with officials.

Sources told NDTV there was even minor pushing and shoving, resulting in some barricades being toppled, as they tried to leave.

Those who should have left India, including men and women after overstaying their visas, were forced to return. It is, however, unclear what will happen to them.

Ejection of Pakistani nationals was the first step India took after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pahalgam attack

Twenty-six people, including 23 Hindu male tourists, were killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, on April 22.

The terrorists- belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)- asked the victims to chant Islamic verses (kalma) and made them pull down their pants to be sure of their their non-Muslim religious identities (read circumcision)  before gunning them down before their families, including wives, children and daughters.

The massacre triggered nationwide outrage and escalated India-Pakistan tensions as New Delhi vowed to avenge the killings.

In an immediate response, India suspended the landmark Indus River water-sharing treaty and closed the Attari-Wagah road border, which acts as a lifeline of Indo-Pak trade and people-to-people ties, besides expelling diplomats, downsizing high commissions, and issuing a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani visa holders present in India to leave.

Modi gives full freedom to Indian military

Modi has given the armed forces 'complete freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing' of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which was targeted at Hindus.

Modi took the decision on Tuesday at a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that it is 'our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism' and that he has 'complete faith and confidence' in the Indian military.

After the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, India conducted precision air strikes on terrorist camps in Balakot in Pakistan. The camps were run by the banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed with the help of the Pakistan Army.