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Crossing the Wagah border between India and Pakistan

A guide to crossing the Wagah border between India and Pakistan (Amritsar and Lahore). Includes everything you need to know about this well-known—but little-used—border crossing.

Famous for its daily Wagah border ceremony, known for its border tensions, the Wagah border between India and Pakistan sees little actual traffic. Probably because most people are still wondering if it’s possible to cross overland between India and Pakistan.

Good news: it totally is. It’s possible to travel from Pakistan to India and vice versa. If you’re armed with visas (and nothing else) , the Wagah border crossing is the most convenient way of traveling overland between India and Pakistan. Read on for a guide to crossing the border between India and Pakistan, last updated in 2023.

Note that the name of this border on the Indian side is called Attari. However, most people know the Attari border crossing simply as Wagah. I will use the term Wagah to describe this border, as it’s the same as the Attari border crossing.

Table of Contents: Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan

Note: This post focuses on foreign travelers. Though the process seemed to be the same for a group of Indian women crossing at the same time, other Indians or Pakistanis might have a different—and more thorough—experience. If you’re Indian or Pakistani, you can only use this border if your visa specifies you’re crossing by foot.

• Am I allowed to cross between India and Pakistan?
• Visas for India and Pakistan
• Is the Wagah border open during the COVID pandemic?
• How to get to the Wagah border from Amritsar, India
• How to get to the Wagah border from Lahore, Pakistan
• Train between India and Pakistan
• Crossing the Wagah border
• Watching the Wagah border closing ceremony

Am I allowed to cross the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan?

Many travelers fear that they won’t be able to get visas for India or Pakistan after crossing the border or visiting the neighboring country. Never fear, that’s not the case!

I’ve crossed the Wagah border on foot multiple times, going from both Lahore to Amritsar and from Amritsar to Lahore. Despite tensions between India and Pakistan, and the sometimes intense security you’ll encounter in Pakistan , the actual border crossing is very easy and straightforward.

At times, I’ve even done visa runs at this border, crossing from Pakistan into India for literally less than 10 minutes. Though I received many a strange look, no one stopped me, and I have successfully applied for and received multiple visas since then.

In short: yes, it’s perfectly possible to cross between India and Pakistan by land at the Wagah border, and many travelers and locals do so without issue every year.

Headed to Pakistan? Don’t miss my Pakistan travel guide with everything you need to know.

Visas required for the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan

The most important thing to know about travel from Pakistan to India (and vice versa) is that it’s largely dependent on which visas you have.

If crossing from Pakistan to India , you need to have a  sticker visa for India in your passport. You cannot cross from Pakistan to India with an Indian evisa; Indian evisas can only be used when entering India by air (by flight). The one exception is multiple-entry Indian evisas. Travelers who already entered India by air, entered Pakistan by land, and want to return by land to India are able to  re-enter  India by land with an evisa. This rule isn’t officially stated anywhere, but travelers have succeeded in doing so.

If crossing from India to Pakistan , all you need to have is a valid Pakistan visa, either obtained online on the official Pakistan evisa website or at a Pakistani embassy abroad. When applying for your Pakistan evisa, you’ll need a letter of invitation. I work with a local company to offer cheap letters of invitation for Pakistan evisas . Don’t miss out!

Is the Wagah border crossing open due to the COVID pandemic?

At the height of the COVID pandemic, the Wagah/Attari border closed for a time. While Pakistan allowed foreign travelers to enter all throughout the pandemic, India closed its borders for months.

These days, the Wagah border between India and Pakistan is open for travel and business . No more closures due to COVID. Hopefully it stays that way.

Was it possible to cross the Wagah border during the pandemic?

For a while the crossing was closed, but there were travelers who managed to obtain Indian visas and cross on foot from both Pakistan and India in late 2021 and early 2022. However, travelers are occasionally asked for NOCs—non-objection certificates—when crossing the border by the Indian authorities. Pakistani authorities have been more open to crossings.

Overland travelers reported that you can email the Indian immigration officials at [email protected] to get approval before crossing. When contacting them, ask for the application form. Once submitted, permission can take up to 10 days to approve.

If you have your India or Pakistan visa ready, despite COVID restrictions it’s possible to do the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan during the pandemic. Worth a try, no?

How to get to the Wagah border crossing from Amritsar, India

Taxi from amritsar to the wagah border crossing.

You can hire a taxi to bring you to the Wagah border crossing station for around 800 INR . They will not be able to bring you further than that point.

Bus from Amritsar to the Wagah border crossing

Public buses run from Amritsar to a point close to the Wagah border. A rickshaw to the Amritsar bus stand should cost 70 – 100 INR  from the Golden Temple area. Vicky, Jugaadus Hostel’s dedicated rickshaw driver, charges 100 INR for a ride from the hostel. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the bus stand from either of these places.

Once at the bus stand, there are half-hourly buses from Amritsar bus stand to Atari, the nearest town to the Wagah border. These buses leave from dock 23 , and a hawker will direct you to the right bus. A ticket is 35 INR per person , and the journey takes roughly one hour.

The bus also stops at Amritsar Railway Station. It stops just outside the exit, near the stairs for the footbridge. The hawker will make it clear he’s going to Wagah Border; if you’re coming to Amritsar by train, keep your ears open.

I suggest leaving Amritsar by 14:00 at the latest. Officials stop letting people cross around 15:30, sometimes earlier in winter as the border closing ceremony times are dictated by sunset.

The bus will drop you off roughly 3 kilometers from the Wagah border. There will be plenty of cycle rickshaws around to pedal you to the actual Wagah Border crossing. They charge 20-30 INR per person.

If you’re heading from Lahore to Amritsar you can go from the Wagah border to Amritsar using the same bus. However, you might have to pay a bit more for the cycle rickshaw to bring you to the bus stop. Expect 40-50 INR instead.

Where to stay in Amritsar before crossing the Wagah border

• Ultra budget –  Golden Temple – Free dorms at the Golden Temple for foreigners. Basic, but perfect for budget travelers.
• Budget –  Jugaadus Hostel  – A super laid back hostel with very friendly and helpful staff. One of the first hostels in India. Good value.
• Mid-range – Golden Tulip Amritsar – An orderly hotel with pool close to Amritsar railway station. Price includes breakfast.
• Luxury – Ranjitvilas – A beautiful building a bit outside of Amritsar, surrounded by quiet fields. A great way to experience Punjabi hospitality at its finest.

A cycle rickshaw from Attari to the Wagah border

How to get to the Wagah border crossing from Lahore, Pakistan

Getting to the Wagah border to cross from Lahore to Amritsar is a bit less straightforward. There are buses, but I don’t know from where they go or how often they go. If anyone reading this has some information, please let me know.

The easiest way to get from Lahore to the Wagah border is by rickshaw. Uber and Careem used to drop people at the border, but they are now prohibited from doing so. However, their rickshaws seem to be able to avoid this issue—give it a go!

A rickshaw to the Wagah border from Lahore should cost around 500-700 PKR.

Best places to stay in Lahore before going to the Wagah border

• Budget –  Lahore Backpackers  – The most popular backpacker hangout of Lahore ( beware: Lahore Backpackers is not a tour operator, don’t get an LOI or a tour from Lahore Backpackers!) .
• Mid-range –  Tourist Inn Hotel – Friendly staff and excellent food options in this mid-range hotel.
• Luxury –  Luxus Grand Hotel – One of the best value luxury hotels in Lahore, the hotel has a gym, pool, and friendly staff.

Is there a train between India and Pakistan?

The train between the two countries is but the stuff of legends. Many travelers have sought out a way to cross by train, but trains are not running at this time. The only time when trains run between the two countries is during major religious pilgrimages. Don’t expect to get on those—security will be tight, and they will not allow non-pilgrims to ride.

Crossing overland at the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan

The below section is written as if coming from Amritsar to Lahore. If you’re crossing the border from Pakistan to India, the process is more or less the same, just in reverse.

Crossing the Wagah border on the Indian side (Attari)

Once you enter the border crossing compound, your passport will be checked and your details noted down. After this, you’ll be directed to the visitor center. Here you will be patted down (lazily) before heading to the immigration booth. At the immigration booth, your passport will be checked and stamped, and you’ll have to fill in an immigration card with basic questions.

After this your bags will be scanned, immigration cards checked, and you’ll be put on a two-minute (and delightfully air-conditioned) bus to the border. The whole process took roughly 20 minutes, but it can take longer if there are more people. There were only four others when we crossed. Note that you’re technically not allowed to take Indian rupees out of India, but they hardly ever ask about this.

When you get out of the bus, hand your immigration card to an officer, and then you can proceed to the actual border crossing. Here your passport will be checked two more times, once on the Indian side and once on the Pakistani side.

Once you leave the immigration office, there’s a little sitting area with shade and some porters. Here you can change some money, and wait for a toy train (yes, really) to bring you to the parking lot. From the parking lot, you can take a taxi or rickshaw to Lahore. In 2019, I was quoted 800 PKR  (about $6)   for a rickshaw ride, which means you can probably haggle the price down by a couple hundred.

It’s also possible to hitchhike back to Lahore or take a bus. If you want to do this, you’ll have to walk to the “town” about a kilometer beyond the border compound. However, it’s easiest to just take a rickshaw or taxi. If you stay to watch the Wagah border ceremony (more on that below) you can definitely hitch a ride back to Lahore from the Wagah border.

Crossing the Wagah border on the Pakistan side (Wagah)

Note: If crossing from Lahore to Amritsar,  you’ll have to go through several security checkpoints on the Pakistan side before reaching the border area.

After walking through the border gate to the Pakistan side, you’ll be directed to the immigration office where you have to fill in an arrival card. They will want to know the exact address and phone number of the place or person you’ll be staying with, but as long as you write down something that makes sense, they won’t actually check or bother you much about it.

They’ll also ask you where else in Pakistan you’ll be visiting. Only give generic answers such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, and say you’ll either fly out or cross back over the Wagah border. Avoid mention of crossing overland into Iran or China if this is your plan.

The whole process took about 10 minutes in total. My bags weren’t searched, and I could proceed to walk into Pakistan.

Entrance to the Wagah border area from the Pakistan side

Watching the Wagah border ceremony

Instead of hopping on a taxi or rickshaw, I recommend you stay for a bit and watch the utterly bizarre border ceremony . The ceremony starts around 18:00  (earlier in winter), but people start pouring in around 16:00.

The ceremony is free to watch, but you can’t take your luggage . You can ask the kiosk at the parking lot if they will look after your bags, or ask at the immigration office if you can store them there. Alternatively, a (literally) cooler option is to cross the border earlier in the day, drop your bags in Lahore somewhere, and return to the border in the evening.

The added benefit of watching the ceremony is that it will be easy to hitch a ride or take a bus to Lahore afterward, saving you a chunk of money.

Whether or not you choose to stay, safe travels and happy crossing at the Wagah border!

Planning your trip to Pakistan? Check out this massive guide with everything to do in Lahore !

• border crossing

Alex Reynolds

143 thoughts on “ crossing the wagah border between india and pakistan ”.

I am a Nepalese passport holder. I do not need visa to enter India. Did I understood correctly that I will need Indian visa to enter India via Wagah border?

Me jehlam jana chahta hu apne teacher engineer mohammad Ali mirza sahab se milne Aapki jaankari dekh ker mujhe yakeen hua ki aap sahi marg darshan karenge mujhe koi aasan tareeka bataye bilkul kanooni tateeka jisse me aaaani se chala jaoo milne jehlam Pakistan me

I am from Bangladesh.. Can i go Pakistan by road..? please can you tell me the full process

Border Sunday ko khulla rehtta hai

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Type and hit enter to search, can a pakistani travel to india.

The answer to this question is a bit complicated. In principle, Pakistanis can travel to India, but there are a number of restrictions that apply.

Visa requirements

The first and most important requirement is that Pakistanis must obtain a visa to enter India. This can be done at the Indian embassy or consulate in Pakistan. The visa application process can be lengthy and complicated, so it is important to start the process well in advance of your travel date.

Security clearance

In addition to obtaining a visa, Pakistanis may also need to obtain security clearance from the Indian government. This is a relatively new requirement, and it is not clear how strictly it is enforced. However, it is something that Pakistanis should be aware of before traveling to India.

Travel restrictions

There are also a number of travel restrictions that apply to Pakistanis traveling to India. For example, Pakistanis are not allowed to travel to certain parts of India, such as the Kashmir region. Additionally, Pakistanis are not allowed to stay in India for more than 90 days at a time.

Currency exchange

Pakistanis who are traveling to India should also be aware of the currency exchange restrictions. Pakistanis are only allowed to exchange a limited amount of Pakistani rupees for Indian rupees. The amount that can be exchanged is determined by the Indian government, and it can change from time to time.

Overall, Pakistanis can travel to India, but there are a number of restrictions that apply. It is important to be aware of these restrictions before traveling and to plan accordingly.

Here are some additional tips for Pakistanis who are planning to travel to India:

• Make sure you have a valid visa and security clearance.
• Be aware of the travel restrictions that apply to Pakistanis.
• Exchange your Pakistani rupees for Indian rupees before you travel.
• Be respectful of Indian culture and customs.
• Enjoy your trip!

I hope this article has been helpful. If you have any further questions about travel between Pakistan and India, please feel free to contact the Indian embassy or consulate in Pakistan.

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India won't travel to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup

• Nagraj Gollapudi and S Sudarshanan

India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023, raising questions as to where the tournament might now be held. The development occurred on the day of the BCCI's annual general meeting in Mumbai, where BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, suggested that next year's Asia Cup would have to be played at a different venue.

"The Asia Cup 2023 will be held at a neutral venue," Shah told media after the BCCI's AGM. "I am saying this as ACC President. We [India] can't go there [to Pakistan], they can't come here. In the past also, Asia Cup has been played at a neutral venue." The new set of BCCI office bearers - the president Roger Binny, treasurer Ashish Shelar and Rajiv Shukla, who was re-elected as board vice-president - were present when Shah spoke to the media.

The ACC has not yet met to discuss the matter, let alone for a decision to be officially taken. That has raised questions within the PCB as to which capacity Shah was speaking in on the matter and why he chose to do so at a BCCI AGM. A PCB spokesperson said the board would not be commenting on the matter at this stage but a robust response is not out of the question: there is, for instance, already talk within the board of leaving the ACC. The PCB is expected to write to the ACC about the comments.

Shah's comments could also hold some implication for ICC events, two of which are to be held in India and Pakistan over the next couple of years. India are set to host the 2023 ODI World Cup soon after the Asia Cup and then Pakistan are scheduled to host the 2025 Champions Trophy. If India cannot play in Pakistan and likewise, Pakistan cannot in India, it remains to be seen what impact it has on those tournaments. At the 2016 T20 World Cup, in India, Pakistan required their government's approval to travel to India and got it only at the last minute. The ICC is unlikely to comment on the issue at the moment.

India's last trip to Pakistan was for the 2008 Asia Cup, while Pakistan's last visit to India was for that 2016 ICC event. Due to strained political relations between the two countries, they have not played any bilateral cricket since Pakistan toured India for a white-ball only series in 2012-13.

India and Pakistan last played each other at the 2022 Asia Cup in UAE in August-September this year, and are due to face off in the T20 World Cup in Melbourne on October 23. The atmosphere leading into that game will no doubt be a little more tense now. Within the PCB at least there is unhappiness with the comments, not least that Shah said this in the aftermath of a BCCI AGM, which he presided over as board secretary, having effectively bypassed the ACC as a body.

Such a decision, an official said, cannot be made without it being discussed at ACC board level. Indeed, after a meeting in March this year - under Shah's ACC presidency - it was confirmed that Pakistan would be hosting the Asia Cup . But there is enough unhappiness within the board to contemplate pulling out of the ACC altogether as a member, a body that was set up in the mid-80s - ironically - to ensure productive relations between Asian members.

It hasn't quite worked out that way. Both India and Pakistan have in the past pulled out of previous editions of the Asia Cup and the tournament itself has been cancelled on occasion because of poor ties between India and Pakistan. The last two editions were played in the UAE, which has hosted the tournament four times altogether.

The topic of traveling to Pakistan for Asia Cup came up for discussion at the BCCI AGM, where members were told that a decision would be taken based on permission from the Indian government. That point was reiterated by Shukla during an informal chat with the media afterwards. It was at this point that Shah said that India would not be travelling to Pakistan.

The BCCI did not hold a formal media briefing, as has been the way in the past. On Tuesday, journalists were told that the office bearers would have an informal chat with the media. Before the chat, the media was asked to submit their phones and instead given notepads.

• You Are At:

'Won’t get involved': US on PM Modi, Rajnath Singh's 'ghar me ghus kar maregne' remark on terrorism

The statement came as defence minister rajnath singh asserted that india will enter pakistan to kill anyone who tries to escape in the neighbouring nation after carrying out terrorist activities in the country..

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was responding to questions at a news conference on Tuesday on alleged operations by India in other countries to eliminate terrorists.

Are the statements by Modi and Rajnath considered as "confession"?

When asked if Modi and Singh’s comments can be seen as “confessions” on the alleged “assassination of (Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh) Nijjar in Canada, (designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh) Pannu's murder-for-hire plot in New York, and killings in Pakistan”, Miller said the US will not get involved in the matter.

"The United States is not going to get into the middle of this, but we do encourage both India and Pakistan to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue," the State Department spokesperson said.

Read:  India will enter Pakistan to kill terrorists who flee there: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

To a question on why the US has not considered sanctions on India over the matter, Miller said, "I am never going to preview any sanctions actions, which is not to say that there are any coming. But when you ask me to talk about sanctions, it's something that we don't discuss openly."

Earlier this month, the Indian Defence Minister, referring to New Delhi's assertive approach to dealing with cross-border terrorism, had said if terrorists try to disturb peace in India or carry out terror activities, a befitting response will be given, and if they run away to Pakistan, India will enter the neighbouring country to kill them.

The defence minister was responding to a question on a report by the British newspaper The Guardian that claimed Indian intelligence agencies carried out assassinations of terrorists in Pakistan as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019.

Modi had reportedly also made similar comments in the context of stern action against cross-border terrorism.

(With inputs from agency)

Also Read:  Pakistan: Amir Sarfaraz, killer of Sarabjit Singh, shot dead by 'unknown' men in Lahore

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ODI WC 2023: ICC may do THIS if Sharif govt doesn't allow Pakistan team to travel to India

The pakistan cricket board (pcb) has made it clear that its participation in the odi world cup will be subject to government clearance.

• Updated Jun 28, 2023, 9:08 PM IST

The schedule for the biggest cricketing event - ODI World Cup 2023 - is out but there is no clarity yet on whether Pakistan's cricket team will travel to India. India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral series in the last few years due to their soured relationship. India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, due to which some of its matches have been shifted to Sri Lanka. In response, Pakistan has taken a position that it will not send its team to India for the World Cup.  

Soon after the schedule was announced, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) again said that its participation in the ODI World Cup will be subject to government clearance. "Our participation in the World Cup and us playing in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qualify for semi-finals will all be dependent on government clearance," said a PCB official. As per the schedule, India will clash with its arch-rival Pakistan on October 15 in Mumbai.  

The official further said that the government has not yet issued any 'no objection certificate' to the PCB to travel to India and since it was a sensitive issue, the Board can only move forward after getting clear directives from its government. "We have already informed the ICC that our participation in the tournament or any issues over venues is linked to firstly the PCB getting clearance from the government to travel to India," the official said.

While Pakistan is yet to decide on its participation, an ICC official has said that if the 'Men in Green' don't travel to India, they will be replaced by the third top team from the World Cup qualifiers. "If Pakistan decides against coming to India for the World Cup, then it will be replaced by the third-top team from the WC qualifiers," the official told Times Now.

The qualifiers tournament is currently going on in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Scotland, West Indies, and Oman have reached the super six stage. After the end of the tournament, the top two teams will qualify for the World Cup. Currently, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are at the top, with four points each. West Indies are at the bottom with zero points and there is a real chance of them not qualifying for the marquee event in India.

Speaking on Pakistan's travel apprehension, an ICC spokesperson told the news agency PTI that all members have to abide by the rules and the laws of their country and we respect that. "But we are confident Pakistan will be in India for the men's cricket World Cup."

In March this year, Pakistan's The News reported that the government won't allow its cricket team to travel to India for the World Cup. "We have some serious security concerns and hence cannot allow our cricketers to travel to India," a government official was quoted as saying by the news outlet.  

Pakistan last played in India in 2016 in the T20 World Cup.

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Does Pakistan still matter to India?

New delhi's conundrum: balancing security and diplomacy with its troubled neighbor.

Among the many issues that will confront the government that emerges from India’s upcoming general election — running from April 19 through June 1 — one of the most important will be what to do about the country’s frayed relationship with its troubled neighbor, Pakistan. The answer may be simple: Not much.

A weak Pakistani coalition government propped up by the military is unlikely to be able to undertake any bold diplomatic initiative toward India, especially because Khan’s supporters, who consider themselves unfairly deprived of power, are liable to challenge any significant policy change. Under these circumstances, India will probably be inclined to maintain its policy of watchful “benign neglect” toward Pakistan.

As it stands, India and Pakistan maintain diplomatic relations at the charge d’affaires level (a notch below the ambassadorial level), but engage on few issues and speak past each other in the few forums in which they both participate. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has been left moribund by their mutual hostility, having gone years without a meeting.

Moreover, bilateral trade is minimal and exchanges among ordinary people are limited. Indian citizens struggle to get visas to visit Pakistan, and vice versa. Even in sporting events, the two countries rarely compete with each other outside of international tournaments. In short, India and Pakistan are next-door neighbors who are not on speaking terms — and, in India’s view, that is just fine.

India could not always afford to ignore Pakistan, which was long a source of terrorism directed at India. Most notorious, in November 2008, a terrorist organization from Pakistan, the Lashkar-e-Taiba, carried out a four-day shooting and bombing campaign in Mumbai, killing over 170 people.

The bilateral relationship never recovered. In fact, there have been numerous moments when a thaw seemed likely — for example, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unplanned stopover in Lahore for then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s birthday celebration in 2015. But progress has always been disrupted by another Pakistani-directed terror attack.

As long as Pakistan was unable or unwilling to curb Islamist terrorism from within its borders, India concluded, better bilateral relations would remain elusive. So, in 2019, when Pakistan withdrew its high commissioner from Delhi in protest of Indian policy in Kashmir, India did not resist; on the contrary, it preferred things that way.

Today, India has even less reason to engage with Pakistan. With internal security challenges — especially in its western borderlands of Baluchistan (near Iran) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (near Afghanistan) — claiming its attention, Pakistan has little capacity to launch any serious attack on its neighbor. Instead, Pakistan’s military establishment, led by Gen. Asim Munir, has been using those internal security challenges — including those that have arisen directly from groups Pakistan fostered as weapons against India — as a pretext to consolidate its control over the Pakistani state.

It was Munir’s predecessor, Gen. Qamar Jawed Bajwa, who in 2018 engineered the “managed election” of Imran Khan as prime minister. The military was seeking an alternative to the two main political parties — the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League — which had alternated in power since the 1970s. (Both had been repeatedly ousted by the military leaders pulling strings behind the scenes.)

But Bajwa backed the wrong horse. Once in power, Khan — a charismatic former cricket star with a playboy image who had transformed himself into a radical Islamist married to a Muslim religious figure — was unwilling to play by the military’s rules. Articulating a fiercely nationalist and Islamist message, and questioning the military’s authority, Khan increasingly asserted his independence — and developed a strong national following.

By April 2022, the military had had enough and arranged Khan’s dismissal. This was not an entirely unpopular action abroad, as Khan had alienated virtually all of Pakistan’s traditional allies. He had celebrated the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, publicly accused the United States of plotting to overthrow him and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow hours after Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Khan had also antagonized China by disparaging its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. And, by aligning Pakistan with Turkey and Malaysia on some issues, he was seen as undermining Saudi Arabia’s leadership of the Islamic world.

In removing Khan, the military seemed to be attempting to restore the old Pakistan: a military-controlled state with a democratic facade that maintains close relations with both the U.S. (on which it depends for military assistance) and China (which provides mostly civilian aid), while seeking to profit from their rivalry. The military also seeks to revive Pakistan’s old role in the Islamic world as a moderate Saudi tributary and restore its carefully cultivated image as the last defense against an extreme Islamist takeover.

But the world has changed since Pakistan last played such games. The U.S. is much less willing to turn a blind eye to Pakistani duplicity than it used to be. Its troops are no longer in Afghanistan, after all, and Pakistan — which is increasingly a Chinese vassal — is not nearly as useful a partner as India in America’s rivalry against China. As for Saudi Arabia, it has embarked upon a dizzying modernization program that is altering its identity as a bastion of Islamic conservatism.

So, India can afford to look beyond Pakistan. And with an economy 10 times larger than its neighbor’s, as well as broad global ambitions, it is unlikely to rethink this policy any time soon.

Shashi Tharoor, a former U.N. under-secretary-general and former Indian minister of state for external affairs and minister of state for human resource development, is an MP for the Indian National Congress. He is the author, most recently, of "Ambedkar: A Life" (Aleph Book Company, 2022). © Project Syndicate, 2024

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‘Indian hostility’ looms over Asia Cup’s stripped-back hosts Pakistan

Pakistan gets set to host just four of 13 matches of the regional cricket tournament after India’s refusal to tour.

Islamabad, Pakistan – When Pakistan last hosted the Asia Cup in 2008, Imran Khan was a political novice, Narendra Modi was still banned from travelling to the United States, India’s cricket team was making its third visit to the country in five years and the entire tournament was played on Pakistani soil.

It was also the last time an Indian cricket team set foot in Pakistan.

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Fast forward 15 years as Pakistan gets set to face off against minnows Nepal on Wednesday at the Multan Cricket Stadium to open the 16th edition of the regional cricket tournament, it will be the first of just four of the 13 Asia Cup matches that will be played in “host” nation Pakistan.

Some Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials say that even hosting four matches – three in the first stage of the tournament, one in the second – is nothing short of miraculous, considering the obstacles Pakistan has faced.

Pakistan was awarded Asia Cup hosting rights in 2021 by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). It would have been the first major multilateral tournament to be hosted by the country in years and suggested evidence of growing normalcy across the cricketing landscape as international teams returned to the country after the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

But the PCB was in for a shock when, exactly a year later, Jay Shah, secretary for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the president of the ACC, said India would not travel to Pakistan for the tournament, citing “political tensions” between the two nations.

Shah, who is also the son of Amit Shah, India’s home affairs minister and a key ally of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Modi, said the tournament would have to be played at a “neutral venue”.

Pakistan scrambled for a response, ranging from a threat to boycott the tournament to various options for a hybrid model.

Ultimately, in June, the current model of the tournament was agreed upon by all the participating nations: One match is to be played in Multan and three in Lahore, and the rest are to be hosted by Sri Lanka – including at least one match between Pakistan and India and possibly as many as three depending on the results.

Pakistan also toyed with the idea of boycotting the Cricket World Cup, set to be hosted by India in October. However, this month, the Pakistani government granted permission for the team to participate in the showcase tournament.

To many observers, the decision to strip Pakistan of most of its hosting rights to placate India was yet another example of outsized influence wielded by India’s cricket board, unquestionably the most powerful in world cricket thanks to the country’s billion-plus population and immense cricketing financial clout .

Saad Shafqat, a Karachi-based analyst and cricket writer, believes “Indian hostility” towards Pakistan is to blame for the situation.

“Their board [often] refuses to play against us in bilateral games. They don’t include our players in the Indian Premier League [IPL],” Shafqat told Al Jazeera. “They are only able to do this because they have the biggest cricket market, and they dictate terms on a global level. Nobody wants to cross them.”

A source at the PCB with direct knowledge of negotiations over the hosting of the tournament said it took an “incredible” amount of diplomatic efforts to persuade other ACC nations that Pakistan could even get a hybrid model with four games on its soil.

“Considering the influence India holds over the International Cricket Council as well as ACC nations, I cannot imagine any ACC country, apart from ours, being able to stand up to the BCCI. Nobody can afford to antagonise India,” the source at the PCB said.

India’s sway over cricket was turbocharged after the success of their domestic T20 tournament, the IPL, which has become one of the most lucrative sports tournament in the world since it was launched in 2008. It was also the year that the Mumbai attacks took place, after which India refused to play in Pakistan.

Despite achieving huge success in the shortest format of the game, Pakistani players have participated only in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008 and have been shunned since – although the BCCI and IPL officials have never acknowledged the existence of an official or unofficial ban on Pakistani players.

Veteran cricket analyst and writer Sharda Ugra said what the BCCI’s stance towards Pakistan reflects its “small-mindedness” and Shah being both BCCI secretary and ACC president is a conflict of interest.

“The Indian cricket board is hurting Pakistan just because it can. Back in the 90s, Asian nations were a bloc and presented a united front, but things have unfortunately changed now. This is a classic bullying tactic,” the Bangalore-based Ugra told Al Jazeera.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said the PCB should have been prepared for the BCCI’s refusal to play in the country – as they have made clear India will only play in Pakistan in events run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s global governing body.

“We all knew that India were not going to travel for this tournament. However, with Pakistan scheduled to host the Champions Trophy, an ICC tournament in 2025, you will see them travelling here,” the former wicketkeeper told Al Jazeera.

Latif added that, with few cards to play, Pakistan was left with no other choice but to go with the hybrid model and should take heart from the fact that BCCI President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajiv Shukla have agreed to travel to Pakistan during the Asia Cup.

“That is a very big deal and should be appreciated and seen as a positive development between the two countries,” he said.

Shafqat, who wrote a biography of Pakistan’s former captain Javed Miandad, said Pakistan must accept that it has a weak hand, but it can still show the world what it has to offer during the four matches.

“We can show to everybody that we mean well. It is easy to get demoralised in such a situation, but this can also be a great motivator to do well on the ground and let it spur you on. I feel that this is what we will see by the Pakistan cricket team, not only in this Asia Cup but also the World Cup in October,” he said.

In Islamabad, where fans are generally happy to make day trips to Lahore and Multan for cricket matches, there is practically no interest in the tournament and no marketing of it either in the streets or on TV.

Ugra said politics is taking place at the cost of cricket.

“Do not treat cricket as the Line of Control,” she said, referring to the 740km (460-mile) de facto border between the two nations through the disputed territory of Kashmir. “Do not make the sport a border conflict.”

Today's Paper | April 19, 2024

Pakistan not added to list of ‘dangerous nations’, say uk officials.

LONDON: British High Commission officials have denied media reports claiming that the UK government had added Pakistan to the list of dangerous countries.

In a recent update, the Foreign and Common­wea­lth Development Office (FCDO) has added eight additional destinations, including Israel and Gaza, to the list of places deemed ‘too dangerous’ for UK citizens to visit.

Indian media reports , as well as some local websites , had wrongly reported that Pakistan was “off limits” for travel according to a UK government advisory. But officials told Dawn there was no change in Pakistan’s travel advisory status which was last updated on January 24, as per the UK government’s website .

Several reports mentioned a ‘black list’ and ‘red list’, misstating that Pakistan was included in the latter, but officials confirmed to Dawn that there were no black or red lists and that each country has its own travel advice.

The UK’s FCDO has similar travel advisories for both India and Pakistan. “FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the border between Pakis­tan and Afghanistan” and “the Line of Control,” says the advisory for Pakistan.

The warning for India is identical to Pakistan, and UK citizens are warned against travelling to Manipur and parts of India-held Kashmir.

The advisory for Pakis­tan also warns against tra­v­e­lling to KP and Baloch­istan areas, including Bajaur, Bannu, Buner, Charsadda, D.I. Khan, Khyber, Kohat, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Orakzai, Peshawar, Swat, Tank, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Gwadar.

‘Too dangerous’

The eight countries declared ‘too dangerous’ to travel for UK citizens are Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Leb­a­non, Israel, Belarus, and the Palestinian territories.

They have joined Afgha­n­is­tan, Syria and Yemen, already designated as high-risk destinations.

The expansion of the ‘too dangerous’ list underscores the ongoing volatility and threats present in these regions.

With conflicts and tensions escalating in several areas, the FCDO has urged British nationals to avoid non-essential travel to these destinations for their own safety.

The FCDO regularly issues travel advice for its citizens to consider before making travel plans to other countries.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2024

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India will not travel to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup: Report

Earlier it was reported that India were willing to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup which will be played in the ODI format.

India will not be travelling to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and will ask for a neutral venue for the tournament, it was reported on Monday.

The decision not to travel to Pakistan, the host of the 2023 Asia Cup, to take part in the tournament and to demand a neutral venue for the tournament was taken at the BCCI AGM (Annual General Meeting) in Mumbai, on Tuesday, Cricbuzz reported.

“Neutral venue for Asia Cup is not unprecedented and we have decided that we will not travel to Pakistan,” Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI said.

Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council.

Earlier it was reported that India were willing to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup which will be played in the ODI format. However, BCCI has now decided against it.

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since Pakistan’s 2012-13 tour of India. They now only face each other in ICC and ACC tournaments.

More to follow…

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Update April 12, 2024

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Travel Advisory June 23, 2023

Pakistan - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued with updates to health information.

Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to  terrorism . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to: 

• Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to  terrorism  and  kidnapping .
• The immediate vicinity of the India-Pakistan border and the Line of Control due to  terrorism  and  the potential for armed conflict .

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue to plot attacks in Pakistan. Terrorism and ongoing violence by extremist elements have led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian, as well as local military and police, targets. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship, and government facilities. Terrorists have targeted U.S. diplomats and diplomatic facilities in the past.

Terrorist attacks continue across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KP, including the former FATA. Large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in numerous casualties.

Pakistan’s security environment remains fluid sometimes changing with little or no notice. There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities, particularly Islamabad, and security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country. While threats still exist, terrorist attacks occur less frequently in major urban areas than other parts of Pakistan.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Pakistan due to the security environment. Travel by U.S. government personnel within Pakistan is restricted, and additional restrictions on movements by U.S. government personnel outside of U.S. diplomatic facilities may occur at any time, depending on local circumstances and security conditions, which can change suddenly.

The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar is unable to provide any consular services to U.S. citizens.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Pakistan. 

If you decide to travel to Pakistan:      

• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas . 
• Remain aware of your surroundings and local events. 
• Vary travel routes and timing, especially for routine trips. 
• Be cognizant of your surroundings, particularly around public markets, restaurants, government and military institutions, and other locations. 
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter . 
• Review the Country Security Report for Pakistan. 
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergencies. Review the Traveler’s Checklist . 

Balochistan Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel 

Do not travel to Balochistan province. Active terrorist groups, including an active separatist movement, have conducted deadly terrorist attacks against civilians, religious minorities, government offices, and security forces.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .  

KP Province, including the former FATA – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to KP province, which includes the former FATA. Active terrorist and insurgent groups routinely conduct attacks against civilians, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government offices, and security forces. These groups historically have not discriminated between government officials and civilians. Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, including the targeting of polio eradication teams and Government of Pakistan security service (police and military) personnel.

Vicinity of Line of Control – Level 4: Do Not Travel 

Do not travel to the India-Pakistan border, including the Line of Control. Militant groups are known to operate in the area. India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official Pakistan-India border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the province of Punjab between Wagah, Pakistan, and Atari, India. Travelers are advised to confirm the status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel. An Indian visa is required to enter India, and no visa services are available at the border.

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Six months beyond the date of arrival

Two blank pages are required for entry and exit stamps

Polio vaccination within one year before travel may be required to exit Pakistan. See Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements below and our Health Abroad page for more information.

Maximum $5,000 per adult per trip with a maximum of $30,000 per adult per calendar year. Minors are limited to half those amounts.

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy islamabad.

Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5 Islamabad, Pakistan Telephone: +(92)(51) 201-4000 or +(92)(51) 201-5000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(92)(51) 201-4000 Fax: +(92)(51) 282-2632 Website: https://pk.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Karachi Plot 3-5 New TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road Karachi, Pakistan Telephone:  +(92)(21) 3527-5000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(92)(21) 3527-5000 Fax:  +(92)(21) 3561-2420 Website:   https://pk.usembassy.gov/karachi/

U.S. Consulate General Lahore 50, Shahrah-e-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Circle, Lahore, Pakistan Telephone:  +(92)(42) 3603-4000 Fax:  +(92)(42) 3603-4212 Website:  https://pk.usembassy.gov/lahore/

U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantt.20 Telephone:  +(92)(91) 526-8800 Fax:  +(92)(91) 527-6712 Website:   https://pk.usembassy.gov/peshawar/ **Consular services are not available in Peshawar**

Destination Description

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Pakistan for info rmation on U.S.-Pakistan relations.   

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

The Government of Pakistan requires all travelers age 12 and over to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

All travelers are subject to random COVID-19 testing at all points of entry/exit.  This policy is in effect until further notice and affects all international airports.  U.S. citizen travelers are not exempt from this requirement and may be tested for COVID-19.

Those testing positive for COVID-19 with the rapid test at the point of entry to Pakistan will then have a sample taken for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and be given home isolation instructions.  Travelers should not expect to be returned to their previous destination, nor quarantined at the Port of Entry/Exit.

Requirements for entry and exit:

• Valid passport
• Valid Pakistani visa
• Dual nationals only: National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)

Obtain your visa at the Pakistani Embassy or a Consulate prior to initiating travel to Pakistan. Visit the  Embassy of Pakistan  website for the most current visa information, and please understand that the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan cannot assist you with Pakistani visa issues. 

All U.S. government employees and immediate family members must follow appropriate procedures for official and personal travel to Pakistan. All official U.S. government travel requests must be submitted via the normal country clearance process and will be limited to mission-critical travel only. U.S. government employees wishing to conduct unofficial travel to Pakistan must contact the appropriate office in their home agency to determine whether there are any limitations or restrictions.

Dual Nationals: Be aware that different visa requirements may apply if you hold both U.S. and Pakistani citizenship. For more information see the Embassy of Pakistan’s information regarding  National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Cards (POC).

When you travel to Pakistan, you are subject to the laws of Pakistan. If you travel to Pakistan on NICOP or POC cards, you are considered citizens of Pakistan, which may limit the amount of assistance and communication we can provide should you be arrested. For more information see  Government of Pakistan Directorate General of Immigration and Passports .

You must obtain advance permission from local or federal authorities to travel in:

• Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
• Various districts in Azad Kashmir
• Province of Balochistan

Operational and personal security policies for official U.S. government personnel change frequently.

Stay in compliance with Pakistani immigration regulations. If you overstay your visa or violate the terms, you may be detained, arrested, fined, and/or imprisoned. For further details see the  Ministry of Interior website  or call +92-51-920-7290.

Keep copies of your U.S. passport data page, Pakistani visa or ID card, and Pakistan immigration entry stamp with you at all times. Consider downloading these documents to your mobile phone in case of emergency.

Vaccinations: With the exception of COVID-19 vaccination, no routine vaccines are required when entering Pakistan from the United States, but proof of polio vaccination within one year may be required to exit Pakistan. See the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  website for recommended vaccinations and health tips for travel to Pakistan. For further updates, contact the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, telephone: +92-51-910-7307, or email:  [email protected].

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Pakistan.

Find information on  dual nationality,   prevention of international child abduction , and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Terrorism:  Extremist groups within Pakistan continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where U.S. citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit, including government facilities and public locations, such as schools and universities, shopping malls, markets, hotels, clubs and restaurants, , transportation hubs/stations, minority neighborhoods, and outdoor recreation areas. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates  prohibit personnel from visiting houses of worship. Terrorists also target Pakistani officials, government facilities, security forces, religious minorities and facilities including Sufi shrines, and regularly resort to kidnapping for ransom. Attacks have included armed assaults on heavily guarded sites, including Pakistani military and police installations, and airports. Primary terrorist tactics include suicide operations, gunfire, and bombings (including vehicle-borne explosives and improvised explosive devices), while other actions include but are not limited to assassinations, carjackings, and assaults. The Government of Pakistan maintains heightened security measures, particularly in major cities, and these measures can vary from day to day. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates regularly assess security situations and restrict the movements of official personnel.  

Demonstrations, political rallies, or large religious gatherings intended to be peaceful can become confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. We advise U.S. citizens to avoid areas where large crowds of any kind gather. U.S Embassy and Consulate personnel are routinely instructed to avoid areas of any demonstration. During demonstrations or periods of civil unrest, the Pakistani government has in the past disabled cellular telephone and internet service, making it difficult for individuals to contact each other or the U.S. Embassy or Consulates.

Celebratory gunfire may occur at any time but is most likely to occur during wedding celebrations, which are frequent from October to May, and on holidays such as New Year’s Eve. Although the likelihood of being struck is remote, falling rounds can cause injury or death.

We recommend you limit the frequency of travel and minimize the duration of trips to public markets, restaurants, and other public locations. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates prohibit personnel from using public transportation or taxi services. With few exceptions, official visitors are not authorized to stay overnight in local hotels anywhere in the country; we strongly urge you to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures. Depending on ongoing security assessments, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates sometimes place areas such as tourist attractions, hotels, markets, shopping malls, and restaurants off-limits to official personnel. 

Threats to civil aviation in Pakistan are not limited to attacks in which militants target airports. The U.S. government is aware of narcotics smuggled onto flights from Pakistan, which may indicate broader security vulnerabilities at Pakistani airports.

We recommend you follow media coverage of local events and maintain good situational awareness and operational security wherever you travel in Pakistan. If you feel that your life is in danger in Pakistan, we advise you to report the threat to local police authorities and consider immediately changing locations or departing Pakistan.

For more information, see our Terrorism page.  

Crime: All travelers are advised to dress conservatively, with arms and legs covered, and to avoid walking alone. We recommend against travel on the streets late at night. Urban crime can be organized or opportunistic and conducted by individuals or groups. It can include fraud, theft, robbery, carjacking, rape, assault, and burglary. Incidents of crime and levels of violence are higher in low-income residential and congested commercial areas but are seen in wealthier areas as well. Pickpocketing, theft, and larceny are common on buses and trains at all hours of the day.

Take precautions to avoid crime, including:

• locking home and vehicle doors
• hiring a 24-hour guard
• varying routes and schedules
• keeping bags or valuables under your legs away from passing vehicle traffic and ensuring that bag straps are not visible
• traveling in groups
• being accompanied by someone with the ability to speak the local language if you travel outside urban areas
• carrying your mobile phone

If you are assaulted, flee to a safe area and report the situation to local authorities by going directly to a police station or dialing  15 .

Demonstrations  occur frequently.  They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.  

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable, avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.  
• Past demonstrations have turned violent.
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.  

During demonstrations or periods of civil unrest/heightened security concern, the Pakistani government has in the past disabled cellular telephone and internet service, making it difficult for individuals to contact each other or the U.S. Embassy or Consulates.

International Financial Scams:  See the  Department of State  and the  FBI   pages for information. 

Victims of Crime: U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. 

Report crimes to the local police at 15 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(92)(51) 201-4000. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.

Police responsiveness varies widely, and crimes often go unsolved or unprosecuted.

Dual U.S-Pakistani nationals may not be recognized as U.S. citizens by local authorities.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

We can: 

• Help you find appropriate medical care  
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police 
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent 
• Provide a list of local attorneys  
• Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution 
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home 
• Replace a stolen or lost passport 

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy or the Consulates in Karachi or Lahore for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities.  First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. The U.S. government may not act to circumvent local authorities or advocate for particular outcomes on behalf of private individuals. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates cannot offer “safe haven.”

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings or structures, particularly sensitive places like military installations, cantonments, and nuclear sites, but the law on this subject is vague and applied inconsistently.

It is illegal to import alcohol into Pakistan without prior coordination with the government and under only under very specific circumstances. Travelers entering Pakistan with alcohol face potentially severe penalties. Additionally, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail and result in severe penalties.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Pakistan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences in local prisons, heavy fines, and sometimes even the death penalty.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Pakistani law enforcement authorities will typically not notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulates if a foreign citizen is arrested or detained, unless you request they do so. Pakistan’s regulations governing the travel of foreign diplomats and the procedures for gaining access to arrested individuals have delayed consular access in the past. In some cases, a consular officer may not be able to visit due to security-related travel restrictions.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information. 

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the following webpages for details : :

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad  

LGBTQI+ Travelers: Same-sex sexual conduct is a criminal offense in Pakistan. While the government rarely prosecutes cases, society generally shuns lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons, and violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons occur frequently.

The penalty for same-sex relations is a fine, imprisonment (sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment), or both. No laws protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, and LGBTQI+ persons rarely reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. 

See our LGBTQI+ Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details. 

Travelers with Disabilities:   The law in Pakistan prohibits discrimination against persons with  physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, and the law is unevenly  enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. The most common types of accessibility may include accessible facilities, information, and communication/access to services/ease of movement or access. Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure. The availability of rental, repair, and replacement parts for equipment and devices is limited, especially outside major population areas. Services for persons with disabilities may also be limited outside the largest cities.

Students:   See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .   

Women Travelers:  We often receive reports of U.S. citizens subjected to domestic violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and forced marriage in Pakistan. There are also cases of individuals having their own and their children’s passports confiscated by spouses, parents, or other family members and having their freedom of movement severely restricted. Local police are not consistently responsive to reports of such cases. Nonetheless, if you find yourself in a life-threatening situation, you are encouraged to call the police immediately and follow up with a call to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. We can sometimes connect you with a Pakistani non-governmental organization that may be able to provide assistance.

If you are victimized overseas, you may be entitled to receive compensation for counseling and/or other services such as relocation back to the United States. For further information, visit the  U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women .

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime committed in Pakistan

 See our travel tips for Women Travelers . 

The Government of Pakistan requires travelers age 12 and over be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Basic medical care is available in major Pakistani cities but is limited in rural areas. Facilities in cities vary in quality and range of services and may be below U.S. standards; facilities in rural areas are consistently below U.S. standards. Medical facilities require pre-payment for services, and most do not accept credit cards.

Effective emergency response to personal injury and illness is virtually non-existent in most of Pakistan. Ambulances are few, lack medical equipment, and are not necessarily staffed by medical personnel. Visitors and foreign residents should bring sufficient supplies of prescription and commonly used over-the-counter medications. Many U.S.-brand medications are not available, there is a high incidence of fake pharmaceuticals, and the quality of locally produced medications is uneven. 

A CDC Level 1 Travel Health Notice regarding extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid in Pakistan has been in place since 2018. Review the  Travel Health Notice .

A CDC Level 1 Travel Health Notice regarding global increase in the number of cases of measles including in Pakistan. Review the  Travel Health Notice .  

There is a risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other communicable diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, in Pakistan. Travelers are urged to use the same cautionary and protective health measures they would in their own country.

For emergency services in Pakistan, dial 15.

We do not pay medical bills.   Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. 

Medical Insurance:   Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See  our webpage  for more information on insurance overseas. Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas. 

We strongly recommend  supplemental insurance  to cover possible medical evacuation. If you plan to engage in high-risk outdoor activities in Pakistan, it is essential that you engage the services of a travel risk and crisis management provider.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the Government of Pakistan to ensure the medication is legal in Pakistan.

Vaccinations:   Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)  

Air Quality:

Air pollution is a significant environmental problem across Pakistan. Throughout the country, air quality varies considerably by city and fluctuates greatly depending on the season and local weather patterns. We encourage you to consult with your doctor prior to travel and consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you. It is typically at its worst during the winter in Pakistan. Anyone who travels to areas where pollution levels are high is at risk. People at the greatest risk from pollution exposure include:

• Infants, children, and teens;
• People over 65 years of age;
• People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
• People with heart disease; and
• People who work or are active outdoors.

Air quality data for major cities in Pakistan can be found on the U.S. Embassy’s  website .

Water Quality

Throughout Pakistan, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware that ice for drinks may be made using tap water. 

Sanitation in most restaurants is inadequate. Diarrheal illnesses are common. Travelers to Pakistan are at risk for other infectious diseases as well. More information about these illnesses and how to protect against them can be found on the  CDC webpage for Pakistan

Adventure Travel:  Pakistan’s mountains and glaciers make it a tempting destination for adventure enthusiasts. Despite the best efforts of local authorities, assisting visitors lost or injured in such remote areas can be difficult. In recent years, several U.S. citizens, including expert climbers, have lost their lives while climbing in the Karakoram mountain range, where rescue missions are often difficult or impossible to execute. Costs for emergency rescues start at $15,000, and payment is required prior to commencement of a search operation.

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Adventure Travel . 

The following diseases are prevalent:

Tuberculosis

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Resources for Travelers  regarding specific issues in Pakistan.   

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: While in Pakistan, you will encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below about Pakistan is provided for general reference only, and it might vary in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic Laws: Traffic in Pakistan moves on the left; the opposite of U.S. traffic. Roads are crowded, drivers are often aggressive and poorly trained, and many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are poorly maintained. Local drivers may drive head-on in your lane of traffic if they believe it helps them get to their destination more quickly. Animals, horse carts, bicyclists, and pedestrians can pose roadside hazards in some areas. Roads, including most major highways, also suffer from poor maintenance and often have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs, and barriers that are not sign-posted. Drivers should exercise extreme caution when traveling at night by road, since many vehicles do not have working headlights or dimmers, and many roads are not illuminated or signed. We recommend driving with experienced local drivers or guides.

Public Transportation: Avoid all trains, taxis, and other forms of public transportation or online ride hailing services. For security reasons, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from using all forms of public transportation. See the  Safety and Security  section above.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information.  Visit the website of  Pakistan’s national tourist office  and  Pakistan’s national highway authority .

Aviation Safety Oversight:   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization aviation safety standards  for oversight of Pakistan’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page . 

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Pakistan . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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Can You Travel From Pakistan To India?

Published: September 11, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Louise Jordon

Introduction

Traveling between Pakistan and India is a captivating and intriguing experience that allows you to explore the rich culture, history, and diverse landscapes of both nations. The close proximity and shared history between these neighboring countries make it an enticing option for travelers seeking to embark on a journey of discovery.

However, before planning your trip, it is essential to understand the visa requirements and travel options available for traveling from Pakistan to India. This article will provide you with comprehensive information on how to navigate the process and make your travel between these two countries a seamless experience.

From obtaining a visa to selecting the most suitable mode of transportation, there are several factors to consider when traveling from Pakistan to India. Whether you are visiting for tourism, business, or personal reasons, having the right knowledge and understanding of the travel requirements will ensure a hassle-free journey.

Moreover, traveling between Pakistan and India offers an opportunity to explore the deep-rooted cultural connections and shared heritage. From the historic landmarks in Lahore and Islamabad to the bustling markets of Delhi and Mumbai, there is an abundance of attractions waiting to be explored.

In this article, we will delve into the visa requirements for traveling from Pakistan to India, as well as various travel options available including air, land, rail, and sea travel. We will also highlight important considerations to keep in mind when planning your trip to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

So, let’s dive in and uncover the exciting possibilities of traveling from Pakistan to India!

Visa Requirements for Traveling from Pakistan to India

Before embarking on your journey from Pakistan to India, it is crucial to understand the visa requirements for entering India. Obtaining the necessary visa will ensure a smooth entry into the country and allow you to explore its wonders.

There are different types of visas available for travelers from Pakistan to India, depending on the purpose of your visit. Here are some of the common visa categories:

• Tourist visa: This visa allows you to visit India for tourism purposes, such as sightseeing, visiting family or friends, or participating in cultural events.
• Business visa: If you are traveling to India for business-related activities, such as attending conferences, meetings, or establishing business contacts, you will need to apply for a business visa.
• Employment visa: If you have been offered employment in India, you will need to obtain an employment visa before entering the country.
• Student visa: If you have been accepted into a recognized educational institution in India, you will need to apply for a student visa.
• Medical visa: If you require medical treatment in India, you will need to apply for a medical visa.

To apply for a visa, you will need to submit the required documents, including a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, proof of accommodation in India, a completed application form, and any additional documents according to the specific visa category.

It is important to note that the visa application process can take some time, so it is advisable to apply well in advance of your planned travel dates. Additionally, make sure to check the latest visa requirements and regulations as they may change periodically.

Once your visa is approved, you will receive a visa sticker or an e-visa, which will be affixed to your passport. It is essential to have a printed copy of your e-visa or the visa sticker affixed to your passport to present to immigration authorities upon arrival in India.

Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from India. Having a valid return or onward ticket is also a common requirement for entering India.

It is essential to comply with the terms and conditions of your visa, including the duration of stay and any restrictions on activities or areas permitted under your visa category. Violating the terms of your visa can lead to serious consequences, including penalties, deportation, or even ban from future entry.

Now that you have a better understanding of the visa requirements for traveling from Pakistan to India, let’s explore the various travel options available to make your journey a memorable one.

Travel Options from Pakistan to India

When it comes to traveling from Pakistan to India, there are several options available to suit your preferences and budget. Whether you prefer air travel for its speed and convenience or opt for a more adventurous journey by land, rail, or sea, each option offers its own unique experience.

Air Travel Options

Air travel is the most popular and convenient option for traveling between Pakistan and India. Several airlines operate regular flights between major cities in these two countries, providing a quick and comfortable journey. The flight duration from Pakistan to India can vary depending on the departure and arrival cities but typically ranges from two to four hours.

Major airports in Pakistan, such as Islamabad International Airport and Lahore International Airport, offer direct flights to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. It is advisable to book your tickets well in advance to secure the best fares and ensure availability.

Land Travel Options

For those seeking an adventurous and scenic journey, land travel offers a compelling option. The Wagah-Attari border crossing, located between Lahore in Pakistan and Amritsar in India, is the most popular land route for crossing between the two countries.

Several bus services operate between Pakistan and India, offering a comfortable and affordable mode of transportation. The journey from Lahore to Amritsar takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the traffic and border formalities.

It is important to note that the land border crossing involves immigration and customs checks on both sides. Make sure to have all necessary travel documents and complete the required formalities to avoid any inconvenience.

Rail Travel Options

Rail travel between Pakistan and India can be an enchanting experience, allowing you to soak in the picturesque landscapes and immerse yourself in the local culture. However, direct rail connections between the two countries are limited.

The Samjhauta Express, also known as the Friendship Express, is a weekly train service that operates between Delhi in India and Lahore in Pakistan. This train journey offers a unique opportunity to witness the cross-border camaraderie and enjoy the scenic beauty along the way.

It is crucial to check the latest schedules and availability of the Samjhauta Express as it operates on specific days of the week. Additionally, make sure to have the necessary travel documents and complete the required immigration and customs procedures at the border.

Sea Travel Options

Although sea travel between Pakistan and India is not a common mode of transportation, there are occasional cruise options available. These cruises offer a unique way to explore the coastal regions and enjoy a leisurely journey.

Some cruise packages may include stops at ports in both Pakistan and India, allowing you to experience the vibrant cultures and coastal attractions of both countries. It is advisable to check with cruise operators for available itineraries and book your tickets well in advance.

Regardless of the travel option you choose, it is important to check the latest travel advisories, have valid travel insurance, and be aware of any specific requirements or restrictions due to unforeseen circumstances or political situations.

Now that we have explored the various travel options, let’s take a look at some important considerations to keep in mind when traveling from Pakistan to India.

Air travel is the most popular and convenient option for traveling between Pakistan and India. With numerous airlines operating regular flights between major cities, air travel provides a quick and hassle-free journey for travelers.

Several airports in Pakistan, such as Islamabad International Airport and Lahore International Airport, offer direct flights to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. These flights are operated by various airlines, including national carriers as well as international airlines.

The duration of the flight from Pakistan to India can vary depending on the departure and arrival cities. On average, the flight duration ranges from two to four hours. Some flights may have layovers or connecting flights, which can extend the overall travel time.

When booking your flight, it is advisable to compare prices and availability across different airlines. This will help you secure the best fares and ensure that you have options in terms of flight timings and connections.

Most airlines offer different fare categories, including economy, premium economy, business class, and first class. For a shorter journey like the one between Pakistan and India, economy class is the most commonly chosen option. However, if you prefer more comfort and additional services, you may opt for business class or first class.

Prior to your flight, make sure to check the baggage allowance provided by the airline. Each airline has specific guidelines regarding the weight and size of checked-in baggage as well as carry-on luggage. It is essential to adhere to these guidelines to avoid any additional charges or inconveniences at the airport.

Arrive at the airport well in advance of your scheduled departure time to allow ample time for check-in procedures, security checks, and immigration formalities. It is recommended to check the airline’s website or contact their customer service to get accurate information regarding check-in timing and other requirements.

During the flight, sit back, relax, and enjoy the in-flight services provided by the airline. Most flights offer a range of amenities, including meals, entertainment, and comfortable seating. Some airlines even provide Wi-Fi connectivity and charging ports to keep you connected throughout the journey.

Once you arrive at your destination airport in India, follow the signs to immigration and customs. Present your passport, visa, and any other required travel documents to the immigration officer. After clearing immigration, collect your baggage from the designated area and proceed through customs. Make sure to declare any items that require declaration as per customs regulations.

Overall, air travel offers a convenient and efficient way to travel between Pakistan and India. With multiple flight options and competitive fares, it provides a seamless journey, allowing you to reach your destination quickly and comfortably.

Next, we will explore the land travel options available for traveling from Pakistan to India.

If you’re looking for a more adventurous and scenic journey, land travel between Pakistan and India can be an exciting option. The Wagah-Attari border crossing, situated between Lahore in Pakistan and Amritsar in India, is the most well-known land route for crossing between the two countries.

One of the popular land travel options is traveling by bus. Several bus services operate between major cities in Pakistan and India, providing a comfortable and affordable mode of transportation. The journey from Lahore to Amritsar, for example, takes approximately four to five hours, depending on factors such as road conditions and border formalities.

When planning a land journey, it is important to consider the visa requirements and border crossing formalities. Ensure you have the necessary travel documents and comply with the immigration and customs regulations of both countries. It is advisable to check the latest guidelines and regulations provided by the respective authorities to avoid any complications or delays during the crossing.

The Wagah border crossing is known for its daily flag-lowering ceremony, which attracts a significant number of visitors. This spectacle showcases the colorful uniforms, energetic drills, and patriotic fervor of the border security forces from both Pakistan and India. Attending this event can make your land travel experience even more memorable.

Another land travel option is traveling by private car or taxi. This allows for more flexibility and the opportunity to explore various destinations along the way. However, it is important to ensure that you have the necessary permits, valid driver’s license, and comply with the traffic regulations in both countries.

It is essential to note that land border crossings involve immigration and customs checks on both sides. Be prepared to present your travel documents, such as passport, visa, driver’s license, and any other required documents. It is advisable to keep copies of these documents and carry some local currency for convenience.

As with any form of travel, it is recommended to check the safety situation and any travel advisories or alerts issued by the respective governments. Stay informed about the current political climate and any potential risks in the areas you plan to visit during your land journey.

Land travel offers a unique opportunity to witness the landscapes, local culture, and interact with the people of both Pakistan and India. It can be an enriching experience, providing insights into the shared history and heritage of these neighboring nations.

Now that we have explored the land travel options, let’s move on to the rail travel options available for traveling from Pakistan to India.

Rail travel between Pakistan and India offers a captivating and nostalgic experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the scenic beauty and cultural vibrancy of both countries. Although direct rail connections between the two nations are limited, there are still rail travel options available.

The Samjhauta Express, also known as the Friendship Express, is a weekly train service that operates between Delhi in India and Lahore in Pakistan. This train, which has been running since 1976, is a symbol of the cross-border camaraderie and friendship between the two countries.

The Samjhauta Express journey takes approximately 5-6 hours, traversing through the lush fields and landscapes of Punjab on both sides of the border. The train provides comfortable seating, air-conditioned coaches, and basic amenities to ensure a pleasant journey.

Traveling by the Samjhauta Express offers a unique opportunity to interact with fellow passengers from different backgrounds, share stories, and experience the warmth and hospitality of the people. The train stops at Attari in India and Wagah in Pakistan for immigration and customs checks.

It is essential to check the latest schedules and availability of the Samjhauta Express, as it operates on specific days of the week. Make sure to book your tickets in advance to secure your seat.

Before boarding the train, ensure that you have the necessary travel documents, including a valid passport, visa, and any other required permits. Immigration and customs procedures will be carried out at both ends of the journey, so be prepared to present your documents for verification.

While on the train, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic views as the train moves across the picturesque landscapes. Take the time to strike up conversations with fellow passengers, learn about their cultures, and create lasting memories.

It is important to note that political situations and bilateral relations between Pakistan and India can occasionally affect train services. Thus, it is advisable to stay updated with the latest information and consult reliable sources before planning your rail journey.

Although the Samjhauta Express is currently the only direct train service between Pakistan and India, there are other indirect routes available by combining domestic train services of each country. However, these routes may require multiple transfers and longer travel times.

Rail travel provides a unique and nostalgic way to experience the journey between Pakistan and India. The charm of the train, coupled with the scenic beauty along the way, creates an unforgettable and enriching travel experience.

Next, let’s explore the sea travel options available for traveling from Pakistan to India.

While sea travel between Pakistan and India is not a common mode of transportation, occasional cruise options are available for those seeking a unique and leisurely journey. Sea travel offers a different perspective, allowing you to explore coastal regions and enjoy a relaxed and scenic voyage.

Some cruise packages include stops at ports in both Pakistan and India, offering an opportunity to experience the vibrant cultures and coastal attractions of both countries. These cruises often provide a range of onboard amenities and entertainment for passengers to enjoy during their voyage.

When considering sea travel, it is important to research and select a reputable cruise operator that offers itineraries along the Pakistan-India coastline. Consult with travel agents or explore cruise websites to find available options and compare prices and itineraries.

Before embarking on a cruise, make sure to check the visa requirements for the ports of call in both Pakistan and India. Ensure that you have the necessary travel documents, including a valid passport and any required visas, to avoid any issues during the cruise.

Since sea travel is subject to weather conditions and availability, it is advisable to plan your trip well in advance and check for any seasonal variations or discontinuation of services. Stay informed about any updates or changes to the cruise schedules and make necessary reservations and arrangements accordingly.

During the cruise, you will have the opportunity to enjoy various onboard amenities, such as restaurants, bars, entertainment shows, and recreational facilities. Some cruises also offer shore excursions at the ports of call, allowing you to explore nearby attractions and experience the local culture.

Sea travel provides a unique perspective on the journey between Pakistan and India. It allows you to relax and enjoy the beauty of the sea while experiencing the allure of both countries at a leisurely pace. However, it is important to note that sea travel options may vary in frequency and availability, so it is crucial to plan your trip accordingly.

Now that we have explored the various travel options available from Pakistan to India, let’s move on to some important considerations to keep in mind when planning your journey.

Important Considerations for Traveling from Pakistan to India

When planning your journey from Pakistan to India, it is important to consider certain factors to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience. From safety precautions to cultural differences, here are some important considerations to keep in mind:

1. Safety and Security:

Stay informed about the current political situation and any travel advisories issued by your respective government. Research the safety conditions of the specific areas you plan to visit in India and take necessary precautions. It is also advisable to have travel insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during your trip.

2. Cultural Sensitivity:

India is a country rich in cultural diversity, and it is important to be respectful and understanding of their traditions and customs. Familiarize yourself with local norms and etiquette, and dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. Respecting the cultural differences will contribute to a positive and harmonious travel experience.

3. Currency and Banking:

Ensure that you have the local currency of India, the Indian Rupee (INR), before entering the country. It is advisable to exchange your money at authorized exchange outlets or banks to get the best rates. Familiarize yourself with the local banking system and carry a mix of cash and internationally accepted credit or debit cards for convenience.

4. Health and Safety:

Take necessary health precautions before traveling to India. Check with your healthcare provider for any recommended vaccinations or medications. It is also advisable to carry a small medical kit with essential medications and supplies, as well as travel insurance that covers medical emergencies.

5. Communication:

Ensure that you have a reliable means of communication while traveling in India. Consider getting a local SIM card or an international roaming plan for your mobile phone. Additionally, familiarize yourself with basic local phrases or have translation apps to make communication easier during your journey.

6. Transportation and Logistics:

Plan your transportation and logistics carefully to ensure a smooth journey. Book your flights, trains, or bus tickets in advance to secure your preferred timings and seats. Research the transportation options available at each destination, such as local taxis or public transportation, and plan your itinerary accordingly.

7. Local Laws and Regulations:

Familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations of India to avoid any legal issues during your visit. Be aware of specific guidelines regarding photography, public behavior, and restricted areas. Respect and abide by these rules to prevent any unnecessary difficulties.

By taking these important considerations into account, you will be well-prepared for your journey from Pakistan to India. Remember to plan ahead, stay informed, and embrace the rich cultural experiences that both countries have to offer. Enjoy your travels!

Finally, let’s conclude our article on traveling from Pakistan to India.

Traveling from Pakistan to India opens up a world of exploration, where you can immerse yourself in rich cultural heritage, vibrant landscapes, and shared history. From obtaining the necessary visa to selecting the most suitable mode of transportation, careful planning and preparation are essential for a seamless and enjoyable journey.

Understanding the visa requirements is crucial before embarking on your trip. Whether you are visiting for tourism, business, education, or medical purposes, ensure that you have the appropriate visa category and comply with the necessary documentation and regulations.

Air travel remains the most popular and convenient option, offering regular and direct flights between major cities in Pakistan and India. Airlines provide comfort, efficiency, and a relatively shorter travel time, making it an attractive choice for travelers.

For those seeking a more adventurous route, land travel options through the Wagah-Attari border crossing offer a chance to witness the cross-border camaraderie and enjoy scenic landscapes along the way. Bus services provide a comfortable and affordable mode of transportation for this journey.

Rail travel, although limited, offers a nostalgic and unique experience. The Samjhauta Express connects Delhi and Lahore, providing an opportunity to interact with fellow passengers and enjoy the scenic beauty of the journey.

While sea travel is not a common mode of transportation between Pakistan and India, occasional cruises offer a leisurely and picturesque voyage along the coastal regions of both countries.

Throughout your journey, it is important to keep certain considerations in mind, such as safety and security, cultural sensitivity, currency and banking, health and safety, communication, transportation and logistics, and adherence to local laws and regulations.

By taking these considerations into account and planning accordingly, you will have a smooth and rewarding travel experience from Pakistan to India.

So, pack your bags, prepare your travel documents, and embark on a remarkable journey of discovery, as you explore the fascinating landscapes, indulge in delicious cuisine, and connect with the vibrant cultures of Pakistan and India. Bon voyage!

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South Asia Brief: How Pakistan Plays Into India’s Elections

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How Pakistan Plays Into India’s Elections

Allegations that the modi government orchestrated extrajudicial killings on pakistani soil will give another boost to the ruling party..

• Foreign & Public Diplomacy
• Michael Kugelman

Welcome to  Foreign Policy ’s South Asia Brief.

The highlights this week: Accusations that New Delhi orchestrated extrajudicial killings in Pakistan play into India’s upcoming elections, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visits key partner Saudi Arabia, and an Indian high court rejects an appeal from an opposition leader charged with corruption.

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Pakistan’s role in india’s elections.

Last week, the Guardian reported on allegations that India’s government had orchestrated as many as 20 extrajudicial killings in Pakistan since 2020, targeting suspected terrorists. The allegations may give ammunition to critics abroad concerned about signals of India’s increasing willingness to resort to carrying out assassinations overseas, following developments in Canada and the United States last year.

But at home, with national elections set to begin next week, the Guardian report will provide a boost to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It validates the ruling party’s boasts about taking a tough line on Pakistan, which play well politically in India. The report also validates long-standing claims by India, as well as the United States, that Pakistan sponsors or at least gives free rein to militant groups within its borders.

In February 2019, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist group, attacked a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. India retaliated with airstrikes against what it said were terrorist bases in Pakistan. The crisis became a dominant theme during India’s elections that year. The BJP slammed Pakistan and accused the political opposition of helping Islamabad by demanding proof that the Indian strikes hit their stated targets.

The BJP handily won the 2019 vote, and India has since maintained a hard line against its neighbor and rival. Its decision to revoke the special autonomous status of Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 was excoriated by Pakistan. Despite a 2021 border truce, Modi has largely refused to engage with Islamabad during his second term. And India has conditioned formal dialogue on Pakistan taking action against terrorists on its soil who target India.

Unsurprisingly, BJP leaders have returned to the 2019 crisis on the campaign trail this year. This week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared that Pakistan is “frightened” because “they know that the new India … storms into their country through airstrikes and kills terrorists.”

Tellingly, India has said little about the Guardian report. Local media have quoted the External Affairs Ministry saying that allegations of extrajudicial killings are “false and malicious anti-India propaganda,” only repeating previous statements . But when questioned directly about the latest allegations, senior Indian officials have not denied them.

This week, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke of Western media bias and blamed Pakistan for harboring terrorists. But Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that if “terrorists run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them.” This ambiguous response will likely reap political benefits. It encourages voters to respond to the allegations in one of two ways: to reject them as Western propaganda against the BJP or to accept them as proof of the ruling party’s muscular tactics against Pakistani threats.

The Guardian report helps the BJP politically in other ways. First, it counters criticism—often voiced by the opposition—that India’s strength abroad is compromised by its struggle to counter growing Chinese threats, from border incursions to naval power projection. Some Modi critics may also applaud India taking out terrorists in Pakistan; counterterrorism is a decidedly less divisive issue among the electorate than the BJP’s Hindu nationalism.

Given his popularity and the weak and divided opposition, Modi is poised to win a third straight term this year and doesn’t seem to need another political gift. Still, anything helps, and the BJP can exploit the latest report to back up its claims of acting with strength abroad to advance its security interests and to showcase its tough stance against Pakistan.

What We’re Following

Pakistan’s Sharif in Saudi Arabia. Last weekend, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, marking his first overseas trip since returning to power in March. Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s closest allies, although the relationship hasn’t always been easy. In 2020, the two sides sparred over Riyadh’s position on the Kashmir dispute, and India’s growing ties with Saudi Arabia pose a challenge as well.

But currently, ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are warm, and Sharif’s trip went well. The visit yielded a significant commitment to expedite a $5 billion investment package to Pakistan. Islamabad’s Special Investment Facilitation Council has prioritized securing funding from the Arab Gulf states, which will be a major focus of the Sharif era: Both he and his brother, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have close personal ties to Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistani economy has recently stabilized a bit. Although inflation remains high, it has come down in recent months, and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal last year gave the economy some breathing room. Additional IMF funds will likely be released in the coming weeks. But debt remains high, and Pakistan’s currency continues to perform poorly—making Saudi funding even more important.

Indian court rejects opposition appeal. On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court rejected an appeal against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and an opposition leader with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs nearby Punjab as well. Kejriwal was detained last month on corruption charges, which the AAP and other opposition groups have rejected. The court said Kejriwal’s arrest “cannot be termed as illegal.”

In a separate ruling last week, Kejriwal was ordered to be kept in jail until April 15, four days before India’s elections begin. The AAP, which has two other top leaders detained on similar charges, reacted angrily to Tuesday’s news and has vowed to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, India’s largest opposition party, the Indian National Congress, is dealing with its own travails, including heavy penalties for tax violations, which the party has rejected as a state attempt to weaken its finances before the elections. These moves, which critics say undermine India’s electoral playing field, are unlikely to hurt Modi at the polls.

India lifts export curbs to Maldives. Last Friday, India announced that it would remove restrictions on exports of approved quantities of key foodstuffs—including eggs, rice, wheat flour, and sugar—to the Maldives. According to the Indian High Commission in the Maldives, the move came at the request of the Maldivian government, and the quantities are the highest permitted since a bilateral trade accord with Male went into effect in 1981.

The news comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu taking a pro-China line and vowing to expel India’s military presence in the country by next month. The detailed public statements from Indian government entities seem intended to highlight the importance of the Maldives’ economic partnership with India.

Muizzu himself understands this: Last month, he said India remains his country’s “closest ally” and praised New Delhi as a generous development partner. Soon after India’s export decision, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer posted an effusive message on X thanking his Indian counterpart, Jaishankar, and lauding the gesture, which he said “signifies the longstanding friendship.”

FP’s Most Read This Week

• Modi’s Messenger to the World by Rishi Iyengar
• The Problem Isn’t Just Netanyahu. It’s Israeli Society. by Mairav Zonszein
• The New Idea of India by Ravi Agrawal

Under the Radar

On Tuesday, thousands of people in Nepal mobilized on the streets of Kathmandu in an anti-government protest organized by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). The protesters favor the restoration of Nepal’s constitutional monarchy and the return of a Hindu state—both of which came to an end in 2008, when Nepal became a secular republic, ending a long-running civil war.

Royalists are loyal to King Gyanendra, the last king of Nepal, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since he stepped down. The RPP is the fifth-largest party in Nepal’s parliament, and pro-monarchy sentiment isn’t widespread in the country. But the protest is a reminder of the disillusionment harbored by some Nepalis toward the country’s current political system; since 2008, Nepal has been beset by political squabbling and instability.

Thirteen governments have ruled in the last 16 years, and political tensions have compounded Nepal’s inability to rein in corruption and economic stress. Some accounts, including the U.S. State Department’s annual religious freedom report , have suggested that India’s BJP has exerted influence over the RPP and pushed it to advocate for the restoration of a Hindu state in Nepal. (RPP leaders have rejected this allegation.)

There may be a precedent for external meddling in Nepal’s politics: China, which aims to deepen its footprint in Nepal, has reportedly sought to unite different leftist parties in Nepal and—unsuccessfully—to pressure Nepali lawmakers not to ratify a U.S. infrastructure grant.

Michael Kugelman is the writer of Foreign Policy ’s weekly South Asia Brief. He is the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington. Twitter:  @michaelkugelman

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Delays by Home Office risk return of vulnerable Afghan families to Taliban

Families of those who helped British forces could be deported from Pakistan despite promise to resettle them in UK

Afghan families who helped UK forces and then fled to neighbouring Pakistan are in danger of being deported back to the Taliban due to Home Office delays in bringing them to the UK.

In the chaotic evacuation period in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in August 2021 some family members eligible for resettlement in the UK became separated from the rest of their families. Some boarded flights while others were unable to due to crushes at the airport and instead fled over the border to Pakistan.

Since then, many separated families have only been able to exchange calls and messages with each other across continents, with no sign of the UK government announcing a promised family reunion scheme.

The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to parts of Pakistan in its most recent warning .

On 11 February immigration minister Tom Pursglove stated in a letter that the Home Office was committed to establishing a route for eligible separated Afghan families.

“We expect to receive referrals in the first half of 2024,” he said in response to a letter to the MP David Johnston, who was intervening on behalf of his constituent Muhammad Khan, 30, an Afghan national who assisted British personnel in Afghanistan and boarded an evacuation flight.

However, nothing has yet been announced and the situation has become urgent. Deportations of Afghans who fled to Pakistan are due to restart on Monday. A previous wave of these deportations resulted in about 400,000 Afghans in Pakistan being returned, either forcibly or voluntarily , to Afghanistan.

Khan and his 26-year-old wife, who is living in rented accommodation in Peshawar with the couple’s young children – a daughter of three and a son of four – are terrified about what may happen next week.

When the evacuation from Kabul started, the couple’s daughter was just a few months old and their son was aged 18 months, so they decided the risk at the airport was too great. Khan’s wife and children fled over the border to Pakistan and hoped for a speedy family reunion in the UK. Almost three years later they are still waiting.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to the Peshawar area, including the city of Peshawar. Khan and his family are eligible for resettlement in the UK under the government’s ACRS Pathway 1 scheme , which is for vulnerable people and those who assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan before the Taliban took control in August 2021. It is not known how many separated families are in the same desperate situation, but Khan says he knows of others.

“Sometimes I feel that, rather than saving lives, the Home Office wants to split up families and put them in danger,” he said.

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His wife added: “I’m asking the Home Office to take me out of this situation but they haven’t done anything. I’m feeling really hopeless.”

Dr Hari Reed, from the charity Asylum Welcome, said: “It is extremely concerning that the situation for these families, many of whom have fled to Pakistan, is becoming increasingly dangerous. The Afghans we work with feel helpless and let down by the government.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government continues to work with partners in the region to evacuate eligible people and are committed to bringing more Afghans to the UK in the long term. We are committed to establishing a route to allow eligible individuals to refer one spouse or partner and dependent children to join them in the UK. We anticipate to see the first referrals in the first half of 2024.”

• Immigration and asylum
• Home Office
• Afghanistan
• South and central Asia

More on this story

Colourful kites fill London sky in solidarity with people of Afghanistan

Afghan refugee wrongly jailed in Greece wins thousands in compensation

Two Britons held by Taliban speak to families for first time since arrest

Female Afghan judge wins legal battle to come to UK

Taliban holding three British men in detention in Afghanistan

Britons could be asked to house Afghans as thousands face hotel evictions

Afghan family in hiding wins waiver on biometric tests for UK visas

EU accused of ‘staggering neglect’ after just 271 Afghans resettled across bloc

Afghan refugees told to leave London say they lost jobs and school places

‘A hotel is not home’: Afghan families still wait for a place of their own in UK

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Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting highlights: Crescent seen in Kerala, Ladakh, J&K. Eid in rest of India on April 11

Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting highlights: Muslims throughout India, Pakistan, Australia, Singapore, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries geared up to sight the new crescent moon on the evening of Tuesday, April 09, 2024 corresponding to Ramadan 29, 1445 Hijri, that would mark the end of Ramadan and the onset of the month of Shawwal with Eid-ul-Fitr as its first day. Since the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted by Muslims in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, USA, United Kingdom and other countries in the Middle East and West on April 8 evening, they continued to fast today and will mark chand raat on Tuesday evening while Muslims in South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Australia, Singapore, Bangladesh etc looked for the Shawwal crescent after breaking the fast this evening and maghrib prayers.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, after the sighting of the new moon or crescent moon. It is a major Islamic festival where "Eid" means "celebration" and "Fitr" means "breaking of the fast" and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide but the exact date of the festival varies each year, as Islam follows a lunar calendar that is based on the sighting of the new moon and this year, Ramadan in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, Singapore etc is expected to get over on either Tuesday, April 09 or Wednesday, April 10, 2024 as the crescent was sighted in different regions while is was not visible in a majority of states in India.

Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting highlights: The crescent moon of Shawwal was sighted tonight in two states in India and some cities in Pakistan while the Muslims in rest of our country to continue fasting along with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries as Eid-ul-Fitr will now be celebrated on Thursday, April 11, except in Kerala, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, where the crescent was sighted tonight hence, they will celebrate together with the Muslims in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, USA, United Kingdom and other countries in the Middle East and West. Chand raat in Kerala, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan will be tonight i.e. on Wednesday, April 09 while Eid-ul-Fitr for rest of India will be celebrated on Thursday, April 11, 2024, indicating that Muslims here will observe a 30-day fast like their brethren in Middle East and West this Ramadan, instead of 29 days of fasting. ...Read More

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India, Pakistan attempted to interfere in Canada's elections: CSIS

Spy agency documents tabled at foreign interference inquiry show 2019, 2021 elections were targeted.

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The governments of India and Pakistan attempted to interfere in Canada's federal elections in 2019 and 2021, Canada's spy agency said in documents made public late Thursday night.

In 2021, the government of India had "intent to interfere and likely conducted clandestine activities," including the use of an Indian government proxy agent in Canada, according to an unclassified summary written by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Two years earlier, in 2019, "Government of Pakistan officials in Canada attempted to clandestinely influence Canadian federal politics with the aim of furthering the Government of Pakistan's interests in Canada," CSIS wrote.

The stark assessments are contained in documents that were tabled as part of the federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference. The public inquiry is examining possible meddling by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

• RCMP still probing alleged meddling in federal elections but offering few details
• Former Conservative leader alleges Chinese interference may have played a part in his ouster

The reports all bear notes of caution about the summaries being possibly uncorroborated, single-sourced or incomplete. CSIS Director David Vigneault told the public inquiry that intelligence is not necessarily fact and it may require further investigation.

CBC News reached out to the Indian and Pakistani high commissions Friday morning but has not received a response.

Asked whether India and Pakistan should be considered threats to Canada's electoral system, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government has taken "significant measures to counter foreign interference."

"We have known for many, many years that many different countries take an interest in engaging in Canadian institutions, and sometimes influencing, sometimes interfering in the work of Canadian institutions," he told a news conference in Calgary on Friday.

"I can assure people that we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent interference from whatever country it comes from."

Pakistan a 'limited foreign interference actor'

The government of Pakistan's foreign interference in Canada was "primarily to promote political, security and economic stability in Pakistan and to counter India's growing global influence," says one CSIS assessment, adding that Pakistan was a "limited foreign interference actor" in 2019 and 2021.

In the case of the 2019 election, CSIS said the Canadian government conducted what it called a "threat reduction measure" ahead of the vote meant to "reduce the foreign interference threat posed by the Government of Pakistan."

"The situation was monitored and assessed to have effectively reduced the threat of interference," CSIS wrote. 

CSIS says its intelligence shows India's government also meddled in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. 

India supported pro-Indian candidates

CSIS alleges that in 2021, the Indian government's foreign interference activities "were centred on a small number of electoral districts." The government of India targeted those ridings, CSIS wrote, because there was a perception by India that "a portion of Indo-Canadian voters were sympathetic to the Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan political stances."

The Khalistan movement is a separatist movement bent on carving out an independent Sikh nation in the northern Indian state of Punjab. The Indian government has long maintained that the Punjabi independence movement undermines India's national security.

What is Khalistan? A look at the movement for an independent Sikh state

The CSIS summary goes on to say that it has amassed "a body of intelligence" that indicates a government of India "proxy agent may have attempted to interfere in democratic processes" by providing illegal financial support to pro-Indian candidates.

"Any such financial contribution could have remained unknown to the candidate," CSIS said.

The CSIS memo does not identify the specific ridings or candidates that may have been subject to India's meddling in 2021.

CSIS describes the proxy agent as "a specific individual who takes explicit and/or implicit direction from a foreign state while obfuscating the link between influence activities and a foreign state." 

Proxy agents are based in Canada, don't necessarily belong to a specific diaspora community and "are witting participants in furthering the objective of the foreign state in specific circumstances," CSIS says.

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The documents are unclassified summaries of intelligence primarily authored by CSIS, with "input and agreement" from the Communications Security Establishment — Canada's other spy agency, which focuses on electronic surveillance — Global Affairs Canada, the Privy Council Office, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Public Safety Canada.

Pakistan and India have not been the focus of testimony during this phase of the foreign interference public inquiry, which began last week. The proceedings have largely been geared toward alleged foreign interference by China. But the two South Asian countries have come up in other documents tabled at the inquiry. 

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A summary of an October 2022 meeting between CSIS and the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections — the agency that enforces Canada's federal election laws — said "the two main state actors involved in the last election were China and India."

And a public summary of a classified CSIS briefing provided to political parties dated June 2019 lists India and Pakistan among other state actors that could engage in meddling in Canada.

Redacting a word that appears right before the word "Pakistani" in a sentence, the briefing goes on to say "Pakistani officials in Canada have likely tried to clandestinely influence and support Canadian politicians of Pakistani descent, with the aim of furthering Pakistani interests in Canada."

Three of the five paragraphs about India in that briefing note are largely redacted, but it says "Indian officials have utilized a network of contacts, which includes politicians, academics, businesspersons, media personalities and community leaders, to monitor Canadian-based individuals that are of interest to the Government of India."

CSIS also wrote it has observed that there have been "Indian interference activities targeted at Canadian Members of Parliament, Provincial Legislative Members ... outside the scope of regular diplomatic norms."

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In July 2021, the Security Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force — a Canadian government body composed of senior civil servants from the RCMP, CSIS, Global Affairs and the CSE — held a briefing to alert political parties to lessons learned from the 2019 election.

SITE wrote that in 2019, it observed "foreign interference activities targeting certain ridings and candidates in relation to the election, directed largely from China, and to a lesser extent from India and Pakistan, through the use of human agents."

The document went on to say that "none of the activities met the threshold to pursue criminal investigations."

The document had a section about Pakistan, which was completely redacted. 

On India, SITE said in that briefing the country is "actively conducting foreign interference and targets Canadian political figures. Working through Indian officials in Canada, India engages in a range of activities that seek to influence Canadian communities and politicians in order to advance its political interests.

"India is interested in engaging its diaspora in Canada to shape political outcomes in its favour."

With files from Janyce McGregor