Punjab: As part of India's stringent measures against Pakistan after the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas issued earlier to Pakistani nationals were cancelled, and all Pakistanis holding SVES visas were told to leave India in 48 hours. On the other hand, as part of a counter-action, Pakistan announced that all Indian citizens, excluding Sikh pilgrims to leave in 48 hours.
Due to this, a large number of Pakistani citizens are coming to the Attari-Wagah border, so that they can return to their country. During this, a woman, Wajida Khan, expressed her helplessness that she holds an Indian passport and her minor children are Pakistani nationals. Because of this the children are able to cross the border, and the mother holding an Indian passport is facing issues.
Wajida Khan said, "I am an Indian and I got married 10 years ago in Pakistan. My children were born in Pakistan. I came here two months ago for a trip. My passport is Indian, and my children are Pakistani, so now I have to leave from here with them."
Wajida further said, "I have also contacted the officials, they said currently border regulations permit only Pakistani citizens — those with green passports — to cross." Appealing to the government, she said, "Apka bohot bohot meherbani hogi ki muje cross karwa de mere bacho ke sath, mein yaha mere bachon ke sath border cross karna chahti hu."
Which roughly translates to, "I request you to allow me to cross the border with my children."
The Wagah border was the sole permissible trade route between the two countries.
