Pakistani nationals not to be permitted to travel to India under SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme

By  News On Air   Apr 24, 2025

Briefing media in New Delhi last night, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. He further stated that any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. He said any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.

The Foreign Secretary informed that the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata. He emphasised that they have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Mr Misri stated that these posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions.