An official said around 272 Pakistani nationals left India on Friday and Saturday through the Attari-Wagah border point, and a few hundred more exited on Sunday.

Asif said Pakistan was on high alert and that it would only use its arsenal of nuclear weapons if "there is a direct threat to our existence".

The United States has called on both India and Pakistan to resolve their differences peacefully following the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam. A State Department spokesperson said the US is monitoring the situation closely and remains in contact with both countries at several levels.