After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty, Pakistan reopened the Attari-Wagah border on Friday, allowing stranded Pakistani nationals to return from India.
The closure, which came amid rising tensions between the two nations, had left several Pakistani citizens, many of them elderly or visiting family, waiting in limbo despite India’s readiness to facilitate their return.
The border was initially shut following India’s decision to revoke short-term visas for Pakistani nationals in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. As a result, 125 Pakistani nationals departed India on Wednesday, pushing the seven-day exit tally to 911. Meanwhile, 15 Indian citizens also crossed into Pakistan.
Alongside visa cancellations, India announced a series of countermeasures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing its airspace to Pakistani-operated flights, and banning Pakistani social media accounts.
As tensions persist, the reopening of the border provides relief to affected families, though the long-term diplomatic consequences remain uncertain.
