COVID-19: Pakistan seeks Indian assistance for repatriation of citizens

In this article, senior journalist Smita Sharma writes about the assistance sought by Pakistan from the Indian authorities to move 41 of its nationals from parts of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and help them be repatriated through the Attari-Wagah border on April 16.

New Delhi:Pakistan, through its High Commission in New Delhi, has sought assistance from Indian authorities to move 41 of its nationals in different cities across India and help them be repatriated through the Attari-Wagah border on April 16.

The High Commission has requested that Pakistani nationals from parts of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab will be crossing over from Attari into Wagah side of the Indo-Pak border on Thursday at 10 am.

In a letter written by Dammu Ravi, Additional Secretary and Co-ordinator of the COVID Emergency Cell in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in response to the Pakistan High Commission request, the Director Generals of Police in the concerned states have been requested to facilitate the movement of the Pakistani nationals.

The letter dated 14 April 2020 also details the vehicles and Pakistani nationals whose movement is to be facilitated for the purpose.

Pakistan High Commission has been informed formally of the repatriation of 41 of the 188 nationals currently stranded in India on Thursday.

"MEA is facilitating the return of foreign nationals presently in India to their countries. These include nationals of Pakistan. We understand from the High Commission of Pakistan that 180 of their nationals presently in India want to go back. We are coordinating with concerned authorities to facilitate their departure," said an Indian official.

Meanwhile, there are some 105 Indian students and around 100 other Indian visitors in Pakistan at the moment as lockdown and border restrictions continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As per sources, Indians have been asked to stay where they are currently as per the government’s stated position on overseas evacuations.

"However, we will help in their return as soon as possible," added a source.