UP Woman, Married To Pakistani, Separated From Children At Wagah Border Amid Post-Pahalgam Visa Crackdown

An Indian woman was reportedly stopped at the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab from entering Pakistan after the Indian government ordered Pakistani nationals to leave, following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The woman, Sana, a resident of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh who is married to a Pakistani citizen, was prevented from crossing as she holds an Indian passport, whereas her children - a three-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter - who possess Pakistani passports, were instructed to leave.

Photo Credit: PTI

The 30-year-old was among short-term visa holders directed to exit India by Sunday.

Sana, who married Bilal, a doctor based in Karachi, in 2020, had recently travelled to her hometown to visit her parents.

She stated that officials informed her of the requirement to leave after the government issued a notice mandating the departure of Pakistani nationals, following the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, by Pakistan-linked terrorists in Pahalgam on 22 April.

Accompanied by her family, she proceeded to the Attari-Wagah border with her children on Friday. However, Sana was instructed to return to Meerut due to her Indian passport, while the children, as Pakistani nationals, were expected to leave.

This left Sana in a difficult situation. Overcome with emotion, she began crying. She and her family observed other similar cases where children were parting from their mothers to cross the border alone to join their fathers.

"My children cannot remain here, and I cannot go there," she told reporters.

"My husband was also waiting at the border to receive us," she added.

The family explained to the officials that the children were too young to be without their mother. Authorities sent Sana back to Meerut and advised her to await further government instructions.

Sana mentioned that this was her second visit to India since her marriage, the first being around three years ago.

While demanding the "strictest" punishment for those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, she appealed to the government to allow her and her children to travel to Pakistan.

An official stated that over 250 Pakistani nationals had departed India via the Attari-Wagah crossing in the past two days.

The deadline for the departure of holders of 12 categories of short-term visas, including visa-on-arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim, and group pilgrim visas, was set for Sunday.

The deadline for SAARC visa holders expired on Saturday, while those holding medical visas have until April 29 to leave.