Kerala HC Blocks Pakistani Wife's Visa Plea Over Pahalgam Terror Fallout

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday denied a plea by a Pakistani national married to an Indian man seeking a visa to enter India, ruling that the petitioner cannot demand that her visa application be processed while a government order suspending all visa services to Pakistani nationals remains in force. The order was issued in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, and the court held that the suspension continues to apply.

The case arose after the petitioner, married to an Indian citizen, applied for a visa to join her husband in India. However, following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, a move that has affected numerous cross-border families. The court noted that the suspension order is still operative and that no direction can be issued to process the application until the government reviews its stance. The petitioner had argued that her marital status warranted an exception, but the court found no legal basis to override the existing government order.

The ruling underscores the broader diplomatic freeze between India and Pakistan, which has severely restricted people-to-people contacts. It remains unclear whether the petitioner will appeal the decision or seek relief through other legal channels. The case highlights the plight of cross-border couples caught in the diplomatic standoff, with no immediate resolution in sight as the suspension order remains in effect.