Wagah border shut down amid escalating tensions; No crossings reported

In a strong diplomatic signal amid soaring Indo-Pak tensions, the Attari-Wagah border crossing was entirely shut on Thursday, with no movement reported from either side. The closure comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and led to a hardening of India's stance on border and visa regulations.

Sources confirmed that not a single Indian or Pakistani national crossed the integrated checkpost in Amritsar, marking the first complete standstill in recent times. This sharp action follows the Indian government’s directive revoking all short-term visas issued to Pakistani citizens, requiring them to exit the country within a fixed timeframe.

In the past week alone, 911 Pakistani nationals have exited India, with 125 leaving on Wednesday. While those with long-term visas remain exempt, the movement across the border has drastically slowed. On Wednesday, 152 Indian nationals and 73 Pakistanis with valid long-term visas were permitted to enter India.

Eyewitnesses at the border have described hours of confusion. One Delhi resident, who arrived at dawn with family members intending to travel to Karachi, claimed they were stranded as Pakistani authorities refused to let them cross despite Indian officials being ready.

The Attari-Wagah route is the only official land crossing between the two nations and has historically served as a crucial link for trade and people-to-people contact. With its closure, diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan enters a fresh freeze, echoing post-Pulwama fallout in 2019.