Key Takeaways
• Over 70 Pakistani wives returned to India after being stranded due to a sudden visa suspension following the Pahalgam attack.
• The visa ban only eased for women holding both Long-Term Visas and valid NORI certificates, leaving others still separated.
• Humanitarian exceptions allowed reunification, but many families remain divided as strict document requirements persist amid ongoing review.
More than 70 Pakistani women who are married to Indian men have finally returned to India after being stranded in Pakistan. This happened after a sudden visa suspension by Indian authorities, which followed the deadly Pahalgam attack. For many families, the past few weeks have been filled with fear, confusion, and difficult choices. Now, with the first group of women safely back, there’s relief but also ongoing worry for others still waiting for answers.
What Happened: Key Events at a Glance
After the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, the Indian government reacted by canceling all visas for Pakistani nationals. This included even those on long-term visas (LTVs) or with special permissions known as NORI (No Objection to Return to India) certificates. Many Pakistani women had traveled to Pakistan 🇵🇰 to see their families, trusting their documents would allow them to return. But with the policy change, they found the borders closed to them, unable to join their Indian husbands and children back home.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the quick turn of events left many families split apart. Some women were already in Pakistan 🇵🇰 visiting relatives when the suspension was announced. Others were in the process of applying for Indian citizenship, or waiting for new documents, making their situations even harder.
The Impact of the Pahalgam Attack on Families
The Pahalgam attack affected not just those in the immediate area, but families spread across both India 🇮🇳 and Pakistan 🇵🇰. Indian authorities ordered all Pakistani nationals in India 🇮🇳—even those legally married to Indian citizens—to leave the country within a short window of 48 to 72 hours. This tough rule changed life overnight for people who believed their documentation protected them.
Families who had counted on long-term visas and marriage ties as a kind of safety net quickly learned these could disappear with one government order. The sudden visa suspension was especially hard on Pakistani women. Some had lived in India 🇮🇳 for many years, set up homes, and had children there. They had gone back to Pakistan 🇵🇰 only briefly, never thinking they might be blocked from returning.
How Pakistani Women Got Caught in Border Crossfire
For Pakistani women, the path to long-term life in India 🇮🇳 is usually through a combination of special government permissions:
- Long-Term Visa (LTV): This lets Pakistani nationals live in India 🇮🇳 for years, often because they’re married to Indian citizens.
- NORI Certificate: This is a “No Objection to Return to India” certificate—an extra stamp of approval that says the government has no problem with the person coming back.
But after the terror attack, even these documents lost their power, at least for a while. Women with both LTVs and NORI certificates who left for quick family visits to Pakistan 🇵🇰 suddenly couldn’t get home. Neither Indian nor Pakistani border officials would let them cross.
How Families and Officials Responded
As more families grew desperate, appeals and requests for help poured in to both governments. Stories began to emerge in the media of children missing their mothers, Indian husbands waiting anxiously at the border, and pregnant women unable to travel.
One well-known case is Dr Vikram Udasi from Maharashtra. He was separated from his wife Priya and their child. Priya had gone to Karachi only for a short stay, holding a valid long-term visa. She was caught off-guard by the rule change. For days, Dr Udasi and his child waited on the Indian side of the border, hoping for good news. He shared, “Finally I have met my wife and child after the long wait… She has been on a Long Term Visa (LTV) for eight years…”
Another man, Rishi Kumar, had a similar story. His wife, Savita Kumari, was also stuck in Pakistan 🇵🇰 in Balochistan after visiting her family. Normal family routines stopped, and uncertainty became a daily reality.
The Turning Point: Policy Exception for Pakistani Women
After nearly a week of tension and appeals, both countries reached a special agreement. Indian authorities decided to make an exception for certain people. Pakistani women who were married to Indian nationals and who held both a valid Long-Term Visa and a NORI certificate would be allowed to return. This was not a complete lifting of the ban, but an important relief for those with the right paperwork.
On April 29, authorities set up a special passage at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border. There, more than 70 Pakistani women were finally let back into India 🇮🇳. In total, about 240 people crossed from Pakistan 🇵🇰 into India 🇮🇳 that day under these rules. At the same time, about 140 people went from India 🇮🇳 into Pakistan 🇵🇰 as part of the usual exchanges. For these families, nervous days ended with long-awaited reunions. Many children hugged their mothers tightly, and husbands breathed sighs of relief.
You can find more about current visa and entry requirements on the official Indian Ministry of Home Affairs website.
Who Still Remains Affected—and Why
While the policy change helped more than 70 families, it was clear not everyone benefited. The rules were strict: only those with both NORI certificates and valid LTVs could cross at this time. Many others remain stuck, including:
- Women who never got their NORI certificate, for various reasons
- Those whose visa or immigration paperwork is still being processed
- Pregnant women who may need urgent care in India 🇮🇳 but do not yet have the full set of documents
- People who have already applied for Indian citizenship but have not received approval
In these cases, officials are still reviewing files and may give new instructions soon. But until then, separated families have no answer. Some fear deportation or further delays. Others try to make the best of hard situations, waiting for a phone call or text with good news.
The Human Side: Quotes and Stories
Behind every rule and number in this story are real people, facing problems most never expected. Many of the Pakistani women at the heart of this issue have set up their lives in India 🇮🇳. When their visas were suddenly suspended, they lost more than travel rights—they lost daily contact with husbands and kids. Some women are pregnant; some are elderly; all are living with deep stress.
Dr Vikram Udasi’s experience is just one of many. His words—“Finally I have met my wife and child after the long wait”—echo feelings shared by dozens of families. Another woman, quoted in Hindustan Times, said, “I’m India’s daughter-in-law, let me stay here,” pleading for a safe, stable home with her husband.
Why Did This Happen? The Link Between Security and Immigration
The Pahalgam attack put a spotlight on the risks governments weigh when deciding immigration policies. After the attack, Indian leaders wanted to protect borders and prevent further problems. So, they took strong action—halting visas for all Pakistani nationals, even those with deep family and legal connections in India 🇮🇳.
This move was meant to show control and a quick response to a public tragedy. But it also created new humanitarian problems, as seen in the cases of the Pakistani women left stranded.
How Do Visa Suspensions Affect Mixed-Nationality Families?
When countries suspend visas in sudden ways, families with members on both sides of a border suffer most. In this case:
- Children were separated from mothers or fathers
- Elderly parents missed care from their adult children
- Pregnant women and new mothers could not access health care or family help
Legal paperwork—things like Long-Term Visas and NORI certificates—can help but are only useful as long as the government still honors them. The Pahalgam attack shows how quickly a change in security can override everything else.
Lessons for Future Policy: Humanitarian Exceptions and Neighborhood Ties
The eventual return of Pakistani women married to Indian citizens points to an important lesson. Even in serious times, authorities can make case-by-case exceptions for people who show genuine family connections and have followed all the paperwork rules.
This situation also highlights the need for clear communication and advance notice. Families caught by surprise could not prepare, and some did not know what documents they needed. Better sharing of information between neighbors like India 🇮🇳 and Pakistan 🇵🇰 can build trust and stop future pain.
Diplomatic Talks: Cooperation amid Tension
The small success of getting over 70 families back together happened only because both countries listened and acted on urgent requests. Talks at different levels between Indian and Pakistani officials, as well as appeals through the media, helped create a path—at least for those with NORI certificates and LTVs.
But ongoing political tensions mean that such exceptions are still rare. Families on both sides hope that this spirit of cooperation can stretch further in the future, making it easier for people to keep their families together.
What Happens Next for Those Still Waiting?
At the moment, many Pakistani women remain outside India 🇮🇳, waiting for a decision on their cases. The government’s next steps will be closely watched by all those affected. Those with applications pending, especially if pregnant or with young children, are seeking special attention. The hope is that more humanitarian exceptions will be made.
Community groups and lawyers are urging the government to make decisions quickly, to stop extra pain or confusion. Many families have submitted extra documents, medical papers, and appeals in the hope that their cases will be heard soon.
Conclusion: Looking Forward
To sum up, the visa suspension after the Pahalgam attack created big problems for cross-border families, especially for Pakistani women married to Indian citizens. While over 70 families are now reunited, many are still facing an uncertain future. This episode shows how powerful—and sometimes harmful—sudden government policy can be.
It also acts as a reminder of the strong family ties that connect ordinary people across borders, even in tense times. As authorities think about next steps, including whether to relax the visa suspension more widely, the hope is that the needs of families will remain at the center of any decision.
For updates or official information about visa services, special exceptions, or changes in policy, you can always check the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs website.
Staying informed is important in fast-changing times. If you are affected by visa changes or know someone who is caught by this issue, being aware of official channels and regular news—such as coverage from VisaVerge.com—can help you find answers, guidance, and support as the situation develops.
Learn Today
Long-Term Visa (LTV) → A visa allowing Pakistani nationals, often married to Indians, to stay in India for extended periods.
NORI Certificate → A No Objection to Return to India certificate—a government-issued clearance allowing a person’s re-entry into India.
Integrated Check Post (ICP) → A designated border crossing facility that manages immigration and customs processes between two countries.
Deportation → The forced removal of a foreign national from a country, usually for legal or security reasons.
Humanitarian Exception → A special official allowance made during emergencies to reunite families or protect vulnerable individuals, despite existing rules.
This Article in a Nutshell
After the Pahalgam attack, Indian authorities suspended visas for Pakistani nationals, stranding many women married to Indians. Over 70 have now returned with special permission, although many families remain separated. This crisis highlights how abrupt policy changes can deeply impact cross-border families, stressing the need for clear, humanitarian immigration solutions.
— By VisaVerge.com
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