Acting on intelligence reports that more than 5,000 Pakistan nationals who entered India in the past five years were missing, the Union Home Ministry has directed the Haryana police to trace the 342 who have not returned after the expiry of their visas.

It also alerted the police chiefs of all other states to trace Pakistan nationals who were granted visas and had not returned, Haryana Home Department officials said on Tuesday.

Director General of Police Nirmal Singh has issued a directive to superintendents of police of all districts in the state to launch a massive hunt to apprehend missing Pakistanis and send their reports to state headquarters by February 16.

The Union Home Ministry has sent a list of 342 Pakistan nationals who have been issued visas to visit different parts of Haryana and have not returned.

This action has been taken on the basis of reports from intelligence and security agencies that more than 5,000 Pakistanis, who had entered India in the past five years were missing.