Over 5,000 Pakistani Nationals in Maharashtra Ordered to Leave Amid Security Crackdown After Pahalgam Terror Attack
Mumbai, 26th April 2025: Maharashtra has emerged as a focal point in India’s nationwide crackdown on Pakistani nationals following the Pahalgam terror attack, with state authorities identifying more than 5,000 Pakistani citizens currently residing across its cities. The state government, acting on directives from the Centre, has ordered all Pakistani nationals on short-term visas to leave by April 27, while those with medical visas have until April 29 to depart.
According to Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, the state’s Pakistani population includes around 1,000 individuals on short-term visas and approximately 4,000 on long-term visas, such as those issued for work, medical treatment, journalism, or personal reasons. Some of these residents have been in Maharashtra for up to a decade, with a few married locally or awaiting Indian citizenship.
Major urban centres like Nagpur, Thane and Mumbai have reported significant numbers of Pakistani nationals, with Nagpur alone accounting for over 2,400 residents. Authorities have identified and tracked these individuals, with police stations across Maharashtra instructed to ensure compliance with the exit orders and to take strict legal action against any overstayers. In Mumbai, 14 Pakistani nationals were recently issued exit permits, and officials continue to monitor departures closely.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance policy, warning that anyone found overstaying will face immediate legal consequences. The crackdown follows the central government’s revocation of all Pakistani visas in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people and heightened security concerns nationwide.
