A massive crackdown on Pakistani living in India started following the Pahalgam terror attack. A startling revelation from Moradabad has reignited debate on India’s visa and citizenship policy. Authorities have discovered that 22 Pakistani women living in the Uttar Pradesh district on long-term visas have collectively built families now exceeding 500 members. These women, who entered India decades ago after marrying local Indian men, hold ration and Aadhaar cards giving them access to welfare benefits but remain Pakistani citizens. Over the years, they’ve raised 95 children in India, and many of those children have grown up, married, and started families of their own. In fact, nearly 35% of these women are now grandmothers.
22 Pakistani women came to Moradabad. All are on Long-Term Visas, not Indian citizens.
~ These 22 gave birth to 95 children. 35% of these have become grandmothers. Family tree count has SURPASSED 500. All have Aadhar. Take Ration from Govt 🤯World’s Biggest DHARMSHALA? pic.twitter.com/bG1ub53RhS
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) May 5, 2025
Moradabad Police, in coordination with intelligence agencies, has launched a detailed probe into the backgrounds of these families. Superintendent of Police (City) Kumar Ranvijay Singh confirmed that authorities are scrutinizing the visa statuses, government document usage, and connections of these individuals especially in light of growing concerns over cross-border influence. Interestingly, two of these women entered India as recently as four years ago, which raises questions about the consistency and effectiveness of India’s vetting process. The total number of Pakistani nationals in Moradabad on long-term visas stands at 24 including two men.
Even though these women are still foreign citizens, their children, born in India, have Indian nationality, and this results in a confusing set of mixed-status families. The women have filed for Indian citizenship but are still waiting after several decades of residency. This case highlights an underlying problem how India handles humanitarian cases of cross-border marriages without undermining national security. The case also captures a broader unease about soft policies vis-à-vis enemy countries. With tensions at a peak, the government is now increasing the scrutiny of all Pakistanis who reside in India, irrespective of whether they hold visas or not. The existence of Pakistanis in such a large number is not
