Maharashtra Police, following a Centre directive in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, has located 5,023 Pakistani nationals across the state, with Nagpur alone accounting for 2,458 individuals. Of these, roughly 1,000 on short-term and SAARC visas have been instructed to leave India by April 27, while medical visa holders receive a brief extension until April 29. Long-term visa holders—including many Hindu Pakistani nationals—may remain, and around 2,088 extension requests are under consideration, though 34 are unauthorized overstayers and 107 remain untraceable.
Central Directive
The Union Home Ministry revoked all Pakistani visas effective April 27, 2025—excluding diplomatic, long-term, and medical categories—after the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 tourists on April 22. States were tasked with identifying and processing Pakistani nationals within their jurisdictions for exit or extension as applicable.
Maharashtra Identification Drive
Acting on these instructions, Maharashtra Police launched a large-scale survey: Nagpur leads with 2,458 Pakistani nationals, followed by Thane (1,106), Jalgaon (393), Pimpri-Chinchwad (290), and Navi Mumbai (239). Pune city reports 114 Pakistani residents—80 on valid visas, 24 overstaying unauthorizedly, one incarcerated, and nine untraceable. Lokmat Times confirms the total at 5,023 nationals across urban centres.
Visa Categories and Exit Orders
State records estimate some 4,000 long-term visa holders—many married to Indian citizens or formerly surrendered Pakistani passport holders—are exempt from the April 27 exit order. Approximately 1,000 Pakistani nationals on short-term SAARC visas for media, medical, or personal reasons have been formally instructed to exit by April 27, with medical visas extended to April 29.
Enforcement Actions and Overstayers
Home Minister Yogesh Kadam warned that overstayers beyond deadlines face prosecution under the Foreigners Act. State data shows 2,088 nationals have pending extension applications, 34 are unauthorized overstayers, and 107 have gone underground—most in Nagpur, Thane, Raigad, and Pune.
Parallel Delhi Operations
Simultaneously, Delhi Police received an IB-compiled list of around 5,000 Pakistani nationals and are coordinating exit notices with district teams. This mirrors Maharashtra’s effort, underscoring a nationwide crackdown following the terror attack.
Implications and Next Steps
The drive highlights India’s tightened security posture, balancing humanitarian cases against national safety imperatives. Authorities will verify exit compliance, process medical extensions, and review overstayer appeals, while potential deportations proceed under strict legal oversight
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