Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has strongly urged the Central Government to reconsider its decision to deport Pakistani nationals married to Indian citizens, many of whom have been living in India—particularly in Jammu and Kashmir—for the past 30 to 40 years. Her appeal highlights growing concerns about the humanitarian fallout of the Centre’s sweeping crackdown in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent civilians, including children and families.
Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), took to social media platform X to express alarm over the recent directive that led to the revocation of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals residing in India. According to official figures, more than 680 Pakistani nationals have already been deported through the Attari-Wagah border following the Centre’s order, with a deadline of April 29 for the remainder to leave.
“The recent government directive to deport all Pakistani nationals from India has raised serious humanitarian concerns, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti wrote. “Many affected are women who came to India 30–40 years ago, married Indian citizens, raised families, and have long been part of our society.”
Mufti emphasized that many of these individuals, especially women, had entered India legally under cross-border family reunification schemes and have since lived peaceful, law-abiding lives, integrated into local communities, and contributed to social life in the region. Most of them, she stressed, no longer have any familial or social connections in Pakistan, and forcing them to return to a country they left decades ago would be both traumatic and unjust.
“Deporting individuals who have lived peacefully in India for decades would not only be inhumane but would inflict deep emotional and physical distress on families who now know no other home,” she added.
Mufti urged the government to differentiate between security threats and civilian residents, and to treat long-term residents with dignity and compassion. She warned that indiscriminate deportation orders risk undermining the social fabric of Kashmir, where many such families have lived with stability for years.
Demolitions of Civilian Homes
In addition to her plea against mass deportations, Mufti also voiced concern over another aspect of the government's ongoing anti-terror operations: the demolition of homes allegedly linked to terrorists. Since the Pahalgam massacre, authorities have bulldozed at least nine houses, citing intelligence that they belonged to individuals suspected of aiding or sheltering the perpetrators of the attack.
Mufti said such actions must be handled with extreme caution, warning that innocent civilians are also being caught in the state’s dragnet.
“There has been a lot of damage because when the houses of terrorists were demolished, the houses of the common man were also demolished... It should be ensured that the houses of the common man are not demolished while dealing with terrorists,” she told ANI.
While she acknowledged the need for a robust response to terrorism, she also stressed that the response must not violate fundamental rights or alienate the general population. Blanket punishments and collective targeting, she suggested, could backfire by further exacerbating tensions in the already fragile region.
Broader Implications
The Centre’s intensified crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam massacre has triggered a mix of security commendations and civil liberty concerns. Supporters argue that firm action is essential to dismantle terror networks embedded in the region. However, critics—like Mufti—warn that broad-stroke punitive measures, such as mass deportations and demolitions, risk eroding democratic principles and could further alienate communities already bearing the brunt of decades of unrest.
This development also raises important legal and ethical questions:
-
Should individuals who have legally resided in India for decades be stripped of residency and deported without due process?
-
What safeguards are in place to prevent the misuse of state power under the guise of national security?
-
How can the state balance security with empathy, particularly when dealing with women, children, and senior citizens?
As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) continues to probe the Pahalgam attack and the government presses forward with a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, the debate between security and humanitarian obligations is set to intensify.
