- विज्ञापन -
Amritsar (Punjab): In the wake of the Indian government’s decision to close the Attari border following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, many Pakistani nationals were seen returning to Pakistan. They were given a 48-hour deadline to leave, and several expressed their frustration, stating that innocent individuals should not suffer due to the actions of a few.
On Wednesday, the Central government announced the closure of the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP), reduced the number of officials in the High Commissions of India and Pakistan to 30 each, and suspended the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES).
Speaking to ANI, Pakistani citizen Hanir from Faisalabad remarked, “The situation is normal here. There are no issues, neither there nor here. I don’t know about the attack. We were just told to leave, so we are going back…”
Another Pakistani woman, who was heading back to her country, shared her disappointment: “Whatever happened is unacceptable. I am from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and I am married to someone in Pakistan. We planned to return after four days, but we rushed back when we learned we had to leave. It’s only the perpetrators who should be punished, not innocent people. We left our crying parents behind… The terror attack was wrong, regardless of who committed it. Islam does not condone this. Whoever did this clearly hasn’t read the Quran or understood Islam.”
She emphasized that only those responsible should face consequences, not innocent civilians.
An Indian citizen from Bhognipur, UP, who came to drop off his sister at the Attari border, stated, “I am here to help my sister who is from Pakistan. The attack is wrong, no matter who did it. She had been in India for 15 days with a 40-day visa. We had to quickly hire a car for her return, incurring unnecessary costs… We need peace.”
He condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting that violence is never justified.
Another woman returning to Pakistan lamented, “We were told to leave within 48 hours. How is that feasible? Attari is 900 km from Jodhpur. We couldn’t find buses. My husband lost Rs 1 lakh on tickets… We need to reach my husband and children today, no matter what. I hold an Indian passport, but I am half-Pakistani. I feel guilty about the terror attack, but what is the fault of the common people? I don’t know if the attackers acted in the name of Islam; they’re not my kin. To me, both India and Pakistan are significant… God will deal with those responsible… There should be some options available for women married across borders. I urge both governments not to penalize the common people.”
Another woman, married to a Pakistani national and holding an Indian passport, expressed her distress over the requirement to leave India within 48 hours. She condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that ordinary citizens shouldn’t be punished for the misdeeds of a few.
The attack on tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, with several others injured.
