India Cancels SAARC Visa Exemption for Pakistan after Pahalgam Attack: What It Means?

Among other measures, India has announced the cancellation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals on Wednesday. This came after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, claiming 26 tourists' lives.

“Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under an SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India,” said foreign secretary Vikram Misri.

What Is SAARC Visa Exemption?

The SVES was launched in 1992 to promote regional integration and people-to-people contact among its member states. It consistst of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan.

The Fourth Summit, which was held in 1988 in Islamabad, decided that dignitaries, parliamentarians, judges, senior officials, journalists, athletes and business leaders should be allowed to travel within SAARC countries without visas. These personnel receive special visa stickers valid for one year.

The visa facility also allowed Pakistani nationals to travel to India, which is now prohibited. This is the first time that SVES has been completely revoked for a member country with immediate effect.

Other Measures

Announcing several measures against Pakistan, India has decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. This river system provides Pakistan with a major part of its water for irrigation.

The Integrated Check Post at Attari was also closed with immediate effect. This is the only land route currently open for trade between India and Pakistan.

India further declared Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as Persona Non Grata. "They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its defence, Navy and Air advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisers will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions," Misri said.

The overall strength of the high commissions will also be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by the first of next month.