Pakistanis in India

{{short description|Widely-defined demographic of Pakistanis within India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = Pakistanis in India

| native_name_lang =

| image =

| caption =

| pop =

| popplace = Predominantly Northern India

| langs = Sindhi, Punjabi, Urdu–Hindi, others

| rels = Predominantly {{Hlist|Hinduism{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Naimat|date=2 October 2020|title=Pakistani Hindus migrating to India for new life often return home disappointed|url=https://arab.news/vt3rk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215231134/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1743311/world|archive-date=15 December 2020|access-date=25 January 2021|website=Arab News|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Abi-Habib|first=Maria|date=5 October 2019|title=Hard Times Have Pakistani Hindus Looking to India, Where Some Find Only Disappointment|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/05/world/asia/pakistan-hindu-india-modi.html|url-status=live|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102204537/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/05/world/asia/pakistan-hindu-india-modi.html|archive-date=2 January 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|date=28 October 2015|title=Why Pakistani Hindus leave their homes for India|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34645370|url-status=live|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162729/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34645370|archive-date=24 January 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Butt|first=Kiran|date=11 September 2020|title=With shattered dreams, 14 Pakistani Hindus return home|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/with-shattered-dreams-14-pakistani-hindus-return-home/1969747|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101200725/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/with-shattered-dreams-14-pakistani-hindus-return-home/1969747|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=25 January 2021|website=Anadolu Agency}} and |Sikhism{{Cite news|last=Tripathi|first=Rahul|date=3 September 2020|title=About 450 Pakistani Hindus, Sikhs await nod to return to India, apply for citizenship|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/about-450-pakistani-hindus-sikhs-await-nod-to-return-to-india-apply-for-citizenship/articleshow/77902768.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125182941/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/about-450-pakistani-hindus-sikhs-await-nod-to-return-to-india-apply-for-citizenship/articleshow/77902768.cms?from=mdr|archive-date=25 January 2021}}

| Minority Islam}}

| related_groups = Pakistani diaspora

}}

Pakistanis in India primarily consist of Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs who seek permanent settlement in the Republic of India via Indian citizenship.{{cite news|author=IANS|first=|date=13 March 2012|title=Over 700 Pakistanis got Indian citizenship|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-13/india/31158920_1_indian-citizenship-pakistanis-applications|work=The Times of India|access-date=2012-06-07}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Others include Muslim Pakistani nationals who desire Indian citizenship or seek to work in the Indian Republic as expatriates.{{citation|title=Adnan Sami reveals why he took Indian citizenship |periodical=Dawn|date=2016-12-07|access-date=2018-11-10|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1176708}} In December 2015, Anglo–Pakistani singer Adnan Sami became a naturalized Indian citizen after living in India on an extended visitor visa since 2001.{{citation|title=Pakistani legend Adnan Sami |periodical=The Indian Express|date=2016-01-02|access-date=2018-11-10|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/pakistani-singer-adnan-sami-receives-indian-citizenship-certificate/}} The state of Maharashtra has witnessed a six-fold increase in applications for Indian citizenship from Pakistani nationals following the relaxation and simplification of immigration rules in December 2017. The primary purpose of these applications was a result of cross-border marriages, which have resulted in spouses waiting for citizenship for close to a decade.{{citation |title=Eased immigration rules give Pak brides in India a ticket to travel |date=2018-11-11 |periodical=Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/eased-immigration-rules-give-pak-brides-in-india-a-ticket-to-travel/articleshow/66572780.cms |access-date=2018-11-11}}

Additionally, there are also an estimated 761 Pakistani nationals imprisoned within Indian jails, most of them serving their terms on charges of espionage and terror-related crimes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/606330|title=761 Pakistanis in Indian jails, NA told|date=2011-02-14|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}}

There are an extensive number of Pakistanis illegally overstaying in India. In 2017, 250 illegal Pakistani immigrants were deported from India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/250-pakistani-nationals-1-750-bangladeshis-deported-from-india-in-last-3-years/story-Ja2VfyWDD5wPhhSGZcfRrL.html|title=250 Pakistani nationals, 1,750 Bangladeshis deported from India in last 3 years|date=2017-03-29|website=hindustantimes.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}}

According to a report in the Pakistani newspaper DAWN, over 5,000 Pakistani Hindus migrate to India annually as refugees.{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1105830 | title=5,000 Hindus migrating to India every year, NA told | date=13 May 2014 }}