Saudi Arabia imposes temporary visa ban for several countries including India; Check full list here
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has introduced new travel restrictions, temporarily suspending the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas to citizens of several countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
The ban, which is expected to last until mid-June, aims to manage crowd control and prevent unregistered pilgrims from entering the kingdom using alternative visa categories to perform Hajj without official authorisation.
The countries affected by this visa suspension include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has reportedly instructed authorities to strengthen visa regulations as part of this initiative. As part of the revised rules, the deadline for applying for an Umrah visa this year is set for April 13, 2025. No new Umrah visas will be issued until after the Hajj pilgrimage concludes.
Saudi authorities have also launched a digital Hajj and Umrah guide in sixteen languages to help and educate pilgrims about safe and legal pilgrimage practices. Those found staying illegally during the Hajj season will reportedly face a five-year ban from entering Saudi Arabia, along with a fine of SAR 10,000.
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India-Pak tensions: Pak defence minister says 'nuclear' not on cards right now
Lahore, May 10 (PTI): The option to go nuclear is not on the cards right now, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday said as Indian and Pakistani militaries targeted each other's installations, escalating the already serious confrontations.
“At the moment the nuclear option is not on the cards. However, if the situation comes up the 'watchers' will be affected as well,” Asif told Geo News.
“I am telling the world that this is not going to be confined to the region only, it could be much wider ... this destruction. Our options are being reduced considering the situation India is creating,” he said.
Asif said that no meeting of the National Command Authority has been called.
The NCA is responsible for making the operational decisions on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.
Tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan increased after the Indian armed forces on Wednesday conducted precision strikes targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that had cross-border linkages.
Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drone attacks targeting 26 locations in India -- from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat -- for the second night on Friday, with the Indian defence ministry saying the enemy's attempts to hit vital installations, including airports and air bases, were successfully thwarted.
Pakistan on early Saturday claimed that its three air bases were targeted by Indian missiles and drones.
