An Indian who moved to Pakistan
A Pakistani Ranger (right) and an Indian Border Security Force officer go through their drill at the Wagah border. PHOTO: REUTERS
This blog post is a response to an article published in The Express Tribune by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy titled:“Deepening the Pakistan-India divide.” Hence I address this to him.
Sir,
I know exactly how you feel. I have been feeling the same every year for the last 20 years when I go to seek a visa for India. I have to fill the same form which is ‘special’ for Pakistani Nationals (and it is the same for Indians in the Pakistan embassy).
I am not a professor like you who gets an invite and a letter to give a lecture at some university. Nor am I an artist who gets to show a business contract for facilitating the visa. In both these cases, to be able to get an Indian visa is much easier than it is for me.
I am an ordinary Pakistani who wants to visit my relatives in India. And every year the daunting question arises:
What if I do not get the visa?
Days before I fill up the forms, my soul shudders with this fear.
But then, why do I want to go to India so desperately each year? No, I do not want to visit some old relatives whom I got separated from during the partition, nor do I want to see my ‘virtual’ friend or my distant cousins who I reconnected with on Facebook or Twitter.
No, Sir. I seek a visa to visit my parents and brothers. You read it correct – my parents.
It was 20 years ago by the stroke of fate I guess, I chose to marry a Mr Right. And in that youthful enthusiasm perhaps, I chose to deliberately to ignore that he wasn’t an Indian like me, but a Pakistani. And after having got married I also deliberately chose to take the Pakistani passport knowing that it would be the most practical solution for my family. I have no regrets for either of the decisions I took.
However, each year that I wish to visit my parents I have to stand in the same queue as any ordinary Pakistani would, furnishing the same documents and details, facing the same scrutiny without being given an iota of consideration that I am Indian-born, and bred in New Delhi for 24 years – an Indian who graduated from a premier medical school in New Delhi.
Sir, I would also like to let you know that my parents aren’t any Indians who’s credentials are hazy or in doubt. Both my parents have retired as professors from Delhi University and are well-known vocal secular individuals. But this does not matter to those who have the authority to grant a visa. To them, I am just a passport number holding a Pakistani nationality.
If my husband travels frequently to India with me, he is taken aside by the non-uniformed personnel in Pakistan, who ask why there are so many India visa stamps on his passport. If I do not travel for three years in a row, the Indian authorities say they need a fresh inquiry about me and that it will take any amount of time, between three months to any unspecified duration for my visa to be approved.
Honestly, I have not had much disappointment in obtaining a visa (though at times I have waited several months), barring the time when the Kargil dispute was fresh. This does not happen because of any procedural ease, but because a resourceful relative managedto push for it in the right place. And during the Kargil time, not even the contacts were willing to help.
The visa officers are generally very kind, I must admit. They often sympathise with me, and express their helplessness regarding the matter. Their hands are “tied” they say. And of course, it is a serious “security matter”, I am told.
Over the years, I have seen that the visa procedures take sinusoidal patterns. At times all seems well and the whole process is smooth-sailing. But then some political trigger offsets the whole process, resetting it from the start.
There are many such women like me, but a lot less fortunate, for whom the idea to get a visa to go and see their parents is no less than a dream. For many women, due to financial constraints, the idea to go up to Islamabad from Karachi, to even ‘try’ for a visa is a great ordeal. Many of them have barely seen their parents more than two or three times in the last two to three decades of their marriage.
And no one seems to hear their silent wails.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
Wow. I admire you. You gave up the freedom of india to live in troubled pakistan ? Wow ! Wish you luck.Recommend
Good one..let friendship prevail and less and less animosity over the years.. For that to happen control the terrorists in pakistan and then guards may be down and easy crossing between the borders will happen naturally.. But looking at the pace at which pakistan is moving to prosecute the mumbai perpetrators I think it will take really a long time..All in pakistan’s hand ..This visa problem of pakistanis into India will be the same even for going to america which again is in pakistan’s handRecommend
@author my sympathies are with you.
I hope a time comes when both countries can come over there hoaxes and live peacefully side by side peacefully.Recommend
This “visa” situation SHOULD change, but it seems unlikely. Neither country is going to relax the stringent rules/processes, in the near future atleast.
So, you could meet your parents at another “neutral” location. Like dubai or colombo or something. That would be disappointing as i am sure you would like to visit your old home and your city but atleast you’d get to see your parents.Recommend
you might not admit it, but i am sure you now regret moving to pakistan as that country is going to the dogs. It must kill you to come back to delhi and see how india is progressing and how free india is while you cant and never will enjoy that kind of life or freedom in pakistan. It’s your destiny i guessRecommend
In both your article and hoodbhoy articles I see a bad picture. Pakistan is in a very bad state. yet there is hope from the elections. We possible can’t have the upper hand as long as our goverment is supporting the terrorists.Recommend
@WSD she doesnt regret the decision…come to this side of border some day and you would realise the life aint that bad as it appears on NDTV or Aaj Tak or on BBC news or Express Tribune…atleast Dr. sahiba can shop here at Carre Four while your equally corrupt leaders fight in Lok Sabha to have foriegners in reatailsRecommend
omg ! Ilmana fasih lives in canada. Don’t you doctor. she does NOT live in pakistan. ET should do a background check before publishing such stuff.Recommend
@Antony, wake up kid…the mumbai incident tool place and 2009, you are talking as if it took place in 1948…visa procedure wasnt too easy even between 1948 to 2009Recommend
@ADEEL – you want to talk retail ? i work in the biggest retail company in india. While we the retailers want FDI in retail, the rest of the country does not. They want indian entrepreneurs to flourish. Tell me one big pakistani chain please ??? We have lifestyle,shoppers stop,pantaloons,central,big bazaar,food bazaar,all the other future group formats, Aditya birla retail, reliance, tata’s etc etc, madura garments,etc etc etc … retail in india is BIG. pakistan needs carre four coz u don’t have any local stuff. Google “retail in india” and you will see mind boggling figures. I, alone, handle 500 crores worth of business. And i am just one employee in my company — i handle a very small category and my sales target for this financial year is Rs 500 crore. That’s my sales target. Convert INR 500 crore to pakistani rupees pls.Recommend
Sad to hear your story , the fact of the matter is unless you are a very rich and famous celebrity with a high profile , marrying across the border is the worst decision ever for a pakistani or an Indian …
No matter how much you get carried away by love or whatsoever , open your brain for once and think about the gravity of the situation you will get yourself into ..
Being a Pakistani , I would never want to marry an Indian boy , even if he is a prince !!!
stay connected with your family and come on there are plenty of good boys everywhere .why choose a country that you know will give you troubles in visa and all … goes both ways , INDIA AND PAKISTAN ..
India – pakistan marriages are always a headache .Recommend
By the way the title should be “An Ex-Indian who moved to Pakistan”.Recommend
oh god ! stop the india-pakistan debate. just google ” ilmana fasih ” ( doctor from delhi ) and u will realise that she lives in canada and was working in jeddah for some 11 years.Recommend
@author
As an Indian I sympathise with you. But there have been far too many incidents that create suspicions regarding any body who travels across from there. So from a security perspective I think you aprecaite that what ever the authorities are doing should be done though it creates unnecessary hurdles in genuine cases as yours.
It could have been good ofcourse to have mutual trust and be able to travel freely between two neighbouring contries, but unfortunately I do not see this happening, not atleat in any forseable future. And the reasons are obvious.Recommend
Excellent piece, read such thing about India-Pakistan after a long time. It gives me immense pleasure to hear that a lady from India got our Passport just for the sake of her husband.
Hats off to you lady. I wish I could get such an amazing partner in my life :)Recommend
Yes yes Ms R is right. The author lives in canada and was in jeddah before that. Why is she lying here ? Google zindabad !Recommend
@ Ms R
True that she should have mentioned about living abroad but even for foriegners getting a visa to India is quite difficult. I know a Bangladeshi American doctor trying to get Indian visa to attend a confrence but couldn’t because of her background. Visa restrictions all over the sub-contienent are very tight I guess.Recommend
Editor like the unprofessional printing of the Shia Sunni article and thn having to apologize, do also check out the comments as I am sure that quite a few of the comments are paid writers who by job description are to reviewing various Pakistani newspapers and commenting in a manner which would be provoking or anti national e.g. read some of the comments in the above article you will understand what I mean and also check out the names…….And who pays them well my guess is as good as you and most of the commentators who are NOT PAID.Recommend
Indian visa is next to impossible and Indians at embassy treat you with contempt. Let’s not mention what does agency dudes to the visa seekers… It is not only difficult but also murder of self respect to obtain Indian visa because rowdy attitude of both Indians and Pakistanis.
Then there is registration with Police process in India and it makes you feel that you are some criminal and you have been taken to Police Station to launch FIR. The affidavit that you have to sign in India says, “I —————- son of ———————- am a PAKISTANI NATIONAL. I have reached Indian on ————————- and registering with Police after ———— hours of my arrival. I understand that police can arrest me if found violating the conditions of visa or any other law that is or will be enacted in Republic of India.”
It is a matter of shame. We need to treat citizens of both countries as humans. Politicians, artists and veena malik get visa in a plate but real people who have loved ones there are treated like animals in both countries!Recommend
My sympathies for you sister,
My mother share the same fate as that of yours this diplomacy sucks specially when my grandparents were on death bed and my mom called on urgent bases and we got stuck due to intelligence and etc issues of Diplomacy and quota as well,
I hate rules like for my mother who hold a ‘nationality conversion certificate’ needs a visa to visit her parents that’s no good for her or us.. for gods sake spare her! take time to issue visa for me if you need to but spare her! she had here parents and siblings thereRecommend
This is to make clear: I am a Pakistani national for the past 20 years after giving up my Indian passport. I am currently in Canada for the past 2 years only for my children’s education.
How does that make seeking Indian visa any different from any other Pakistani and how does the Indian-Pakistani visa issue become null and void, just because of my place of residence?Recommend
You makes your choices; you takes your lumps! No cribbing, please, you are an adult – and a professional to boot!Recommend
@ Adeel
Well bro, in all fairness, us Pakistanis have been trying to send in our Muridke brethrens into India illegally for a long time now; and frankly, why all this hand wringing about Indian visas…we have the same problems applying for visas to all other countries. So, why should there be an exception in the case of India; after all it is our dushman mulk..right?
About the Doctor Sahiba’s visa problems—tough luck. You are a Pakistani now, like the rest of us. So, why moan about going to India, and having lived in India and studied in India, and all that. You are like the rest of us now, and therefore, you have to go through the same tribulations the rest of us common Pakistanis face. Why should reality be different for you?Recommend
@WSD:
Shouldn’t you go back to work on your massive portfolio instead of commenting on our poor little Pakistani website?Recommend
this is ur choice…..u choose pakistan….in thi sbig population u dnt find ny guy here thn its nt Indian govt prblm…they r doing rite…& whn someone visit again n agin they neeed to very fy & i feel they neeed to very fy u too u r a pakistani & what pakistan is doing in india every one knws tht u tooo iam sureRecommend
@Author
Try to put yourself in someone’s position who lost his/her relative in 26/11 . You may not be a terrorist , but there are thousands who sneak into India and cause havoc . I have sympathy for you , but at the same time I endorse Indian Gov’s action.Recommend
What a shame for both countries to do these kind of things with there citizens and i hope after granting MFN status it will change.Recommend
@Ms R: I guess Pakistanis living in Canada also need a visa for India. The post does not complain about Indian visa in Pakistan, but for Pakistanis. From the reference to her hubby’s treatment in Pakistan, it is clear that she is referring to her experience abroad.Recommend
I believe the author Ilmana Fasih must be extremely self-destructive to take citizenship of Pakistan.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih: Eh, u were in jeddah for 11 years too right ?Recommend
Good I hope you, with your blog could put some sense into the minds of mad Pakistanis,.Also tell them to keep their religious ideas private and not to listen to mullahs and to take care of their economy.Recommend
An equally sad experience for my octogenarian father who is struggling in vain to obtain an Indian Visa to visit his native city and meet his sister and other relatives. The requirement now is for the sponsor (sister) to furnish copy of ration card, copy of utility bill, a stamped affidavit from a Class-I officer, a Character Certificate, income statement, etc.— all these considering that my father had traveled to India regularly and within last 3 years.
An exercise in futility and totally non-humanitarian attitude towards a senior citizen wanting to visit his birthplace!Recommend
The comments from some are very pathetic honestly, in this blog. Specially AnilRecommend
I can totally understand what you go through since I have to go through the same filling my mom’s forms and our’s when we accompany her. She has the same story as yours. Each time we have to face the same thing. But i’d also like to want you to comment on what pakistani officials do at times, when they see your birth place.Recommend
Thank God i am not a victim of migration.Recommend
this is so true.. i had an uncle who wanted to visit his sister in India.. he passed away early this year waiting for almost 40 years..Recommend
This is the result of having so much animosity between two countries.
In India , people talk about Pakistan attached to bomb blast , suicide bombings , religious fanatism , corruption , ISI , blasphemy , nearly “0″ % minority left and nothing like the beauty of Gilgit and other parts of northern Pakistan.
It is sad . Really , it is very sad that people contacts so easily.
Lanat hey aiisi governments aaur army par.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih:
You have given up your Indian passport means you will be treated like any other foreigner. Being born and raised in Delhi should not qualify for any kind of immunity. My brother who is a senior officer in the Indian Army was not granted a Canadian visa despite the fact that he had multiple visas of the USA and UK. Canada refused visitor’s visa to my brother on the ground that once he had served in J&K and Indian Army’s record in J&K is very poor in maintaining human rights. Big deal. People of your calibre should endorse the visa granting practices of both India and Pakistan. I never get upset at airports for multiple security checks. They are doing it for my safety. I fully endorse the comments by Anil.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih:
By the way do you remember a guy called david haeadly who came to India for tourist and business purposes and what he did to the innocents?
The consulars most likely are discouraging your travel to India and why not ? You know the reasons right? So please do not complain.
When you know that you are not welcome here why not just drop the plan and meet your relatives in a third country? That will save every one a lot of trouble.. don’t you think so?Recommend
Ilmana,well mentioned address to Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy’s artcle.This is the problem we the joint Indo Pak families are facing.I am not feeling sorry for being married to an Indian,infact i am proud on her.I am sure the future of Pakistan is bright,Pakistan is the victum of international politics.No regrets on being a Pakistani and having a Pakistani wife of Indian origin.Ilmana feel sorry for you having problems in getting the Indian visa every year,hope one day this will be made simpler and easier especially for those who were born in India or Pakistan.God Bless You.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih: You are a trained gynaecologist. You are currently in Canada for the past two years only for your children’s education. I doubt you are a practitioner gynaecologist in Canada. Here you comply with Canadian Medical compliance.Recommend
I salute you. I dont have words to explain your courage.Recommend
Dr Ilmana Fasih….
Why do you need an Indian visa, if you are in Pakistan? You can actually take a motorized rubber dinghy from Karachi and land right in the middle of Mumbai. Nobody will ask you a question.Recommend
Syed Fasihuddin says “Pakistan is the victum of international politics”
Dear brother…Pakistan is a victim of its children.
Your excuse is like a ‘dog ate my homework’ kind of excuse.Recommend
Sorry ma’am,we already saw what david headly did.We can’t take risk anymore and can’t twist the rules for some pakistani indian born national.IF YOU HAVE GUTS TO TAKE THE E DECISION THEN YOU MUST HAVE GUTS TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES AS WELL.Recommend
A Muslim must be able to live anywhere she wants.
Sister, thank you for showing Pakistan is not that bad. Indians are equally bad.
All those who say sister ilmana must be sad living in Pakistan, a Muslim is never sad living witih other Muslims. Your Kashmiris take your money and still love Pakistan. He He.
Pakistan Zindabad. Sister Ilmana, we are proud of you!!Recommend
@WSD:
Gosh, i cannot believe people can be this rude and insensitive!Recommend
Syed Faihuddin
Proud of you too brother! Your wife must be very happy too. Pakistan zindabad. Pervez Hoodbhoy was just putting Pakistan down.Recommend
@EoH: I am sorry to hear your plight and so of many Pakistani friends who goes through it. I can tell I share the pain since my wife who is born in Pakistan and raised in Europe has to go through the same. SO no matter what passport you hold, if you are born in Pakistan you will face the heat. But please let’s not single out India for that matter, my wife’s sister who married Pakistani and holds Pakistani passport faces this “extra” treatment any where she goes, She had always have to face extra scrutiny and her husband is always picked out cause they match the profile thanks to their age. And while I don’t justify it but what measure a government has other than extra caution once something like Mumbai incident happens ? India is not as advanced as western countries to silently gather data on every foreigner traveling in the country. Unfortunately they have to go through intimidation route. Again, I do not justify it, but I can just helplessly understand it.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih: Let me give you solution. And I am very sure you are aware of this. If you have Canadian passport which I have no doubt you have with your qualification. You no longer face any issue to travel to India. People born in India who has foreign passport besides Pakistan do not face this trouble. Only people born in “Pakistan” no matter what citizenship you help u will face the same treatment as any Pakistani. So I can understand you wrote this article for your hubby and not for yourself. This situation is sad but true.Recommend
All those criticizing sister ilmana, shame on you. She is speaking up for Pakistan. Her parents are fighting fascist Hindus in India as secularists. She may be living in Canada but still spoke out before Indians made Pakistanis feel bad with the help of Pervez Hoodbhoy. She is our real sister. REAL PAKISTANI!!Recommend
@MuslimFirst: Reality is far different from your wishful thinking :). Only Pakistani media says Kashmiri are struggling, you should really visit Kashmir. You are a muslim and you should not be sad or afraid to live with your muslim Kashmiris. Should you ? So please you are most welcomed to see what happens in kashmir yourself. Only thing I will expect from you is when you go back, report exactly what you saw and not what conspired in your fantasy.Recommend
When you make a choice to become part of a country that actively harms your motherland you should accept the consequences with good grace. Instead you are whining that you are not getting special treatment because you went to a fancy medical school in Delhi or your parents are big professors in Delhi and so on. You mean to say that you are more exempt from scrutiny than an ordinary ill-educated Pakistani laborer? Obviously you do.
At least you picked a proper feudal country to give your allegiance to.Recommend
Pakistan is a country directly threatening the survival and prosperity of India. You took your decisions knowing all odds work against it. There is nothing anybody can do. Your choices. Your fate.Recommend
@Author: “For many women, due to financial constraints, the idea to go up to Islamabad from Karachi, to even ‘try’ for a visa is a great ordeal”
If a trip to Karachi is beyond their financial means, how is a trip to India going to be cheaper? The issue for these people is their financial circunstance not the visa process.Recommend
im Indian but i find people commenting on author taking up pakistani citizenship, offending. its her life she has right to choose any citizenship she want. but yes sire consequences follow.Recommend
@MuslimFirst:
: You say : “A Muslim must be able to live anywhere she wants”.
Why should Muslims have such privilege that membes of no other religion have?
You say : “Sister, thank you for showing Pakistan is not that bad. Indians are equally bad”
It is unclear how this aricle proves Indians are bad. Al it says is that Indians make it difficult for people of Pakistani nationality to get a visa. What’s wrong with that?Recommend
I have not visited my family for past four years because I don’t want to get sucked into security clearances in Pakistan. But your situation is even worse than me. I wish you could physically open your heart and show it to your one billion folks in India how it feels to be discriminated against based on your nationality and how it hurts even more if done by your ex-countrymen. Whatever the reality on ground is, only people who are in the crosscurrents know how hard it is to go against the tide. Rest of them knows no compassion and only knows the language of hate.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih: “This is to make clear: I am a Pakistani national for the past 20 years after giving up my Indian passport. I am currently in Canada for the past 2 years only for my children’s education.
How does that make seeking Indian visa any different from any other Pakistani and how does the Indian-Pakistani visa issue become null and void, just because of my place of residence”
What Ms. R and others are objecting to is
– You describe yourself as an Indian -when you clearly gave up your Indian citizenship willingly.
– Your heading says An Indian who moved to Pakistan. When the reality is that you have not moved to Pakistan at all but Canada.Recommend
Indians are good at taking and not giving including visas. Indians take from all over the world including jobs yet they don’t want to give anything to anyone. The same India that stole jobs from Americans refused to let them open up a Wal-Mart. So much so for insecurity and double standards.Recommend
As someone else commented, you took up a Pakistani passport, which makes you an ex-Indian. So you have to go thru the same process that everyone has to go thru.
An uncle of mine chose to become an American citizen 20 years back and visits India every year. Whenever he visits India, he would also visit South East Asia, countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia etc. After the David Headley affair, the Indian Government changed the rules so that any foreign passport holder who comes on a tourist visa and leaves, has to wait for 2 months before coming back. And my uncle also had to abide by the rules. He didn’t complain. And by the way, he is also a doctor and we are Hindus.
So quit complaining, you live with the decisions you make.Recommend
My God.. i have seen Pakistanis cry for visas to get to India. Its just like the mexicans who want to come to US. LOL. Love your own country. God will bless you for that.Recommend
@Concerned desi: ” If you have Canadian passport which I have no doubt you have with your qualification..”
I am a Canadian Citizen, qualification has nothing to do with acquiring the Canadian Citizenship. One has to be a permanent resident by virtue of immigration and must have completed four years of residency in Canada. You do not become a citizen automatically. Once you become eligible, you apply for the Canadian Citizenship which takes about twelve to eighteen months. Before you actually take the oath, there is a written examination and full background checks. We Canadians do not need more Citizens from Pakistan as majority of them are burden on the tax payer because they ( Pak-Canadians ) live on welfare.Recommend
@Concerned desi:
“@Ilmana Fasih: Let me give you solution. And I am very sure you are aware of this. If you have Canadian passport which I have no doubt you have with your qualification. You no longer face any issue to travel to India. People born in India who has foreign passport besides Pakistan do not face this trouble. Only people born in “Pakistan” no matter what citizenship you help u will face the same treatment as any Pakistani. So I can understand you wrote this article for your hubby and not for yourself. This situation is sad but true.”
I am afraid you have not kept up with Indian visa situation. Especially after 26/11, all foreign nationals who have Pakistani connection (parents, grandparents, marriage etc.) have to go through special checks for India visa. You can blame Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism for the visa problems.Recommend
Thank you Dr Fasih to moving to Pakistan. Please make sure that you compensate the Govt of India for getting a very quality Medical education in India.
Sorry that we have to grill you down every time you apply and try to visit India. It is unfortunate but a very valid practice since security of India comes first.Recommend
As an Indian I am happy that there is something Indian government is doing right which is to grant only a limited number of visas to pakistanis irrespective of whether you were born in India or USA but you are pakisntani national now, your culture and surroundings are bound to influence your thought process and no stone must be left unturned to check for background. Just a reminder, David Headly came to India on legal visa with an American passport, he never informed anyone about his stay and childhood in pakistan, and planned everything. You may not be a terrorist as of now but who knows who is.
You have chosen your side, now be contended with it. Pakistanis with medical issues should be granted visas immediately, no other priorities.Recommend
Ask your family members to migrate to pakistan, problem solved. Everyone happy :)Recommend
I am sorry, you appear to be someone with no loyalty. If you are in Canada, you could only have obtained Canadian immigration if you applied with the intention of being a landed immigrant. The fact that you are not loyal to Canada which accepted you as a landed immigrant after you went through the immigration process at the embassy implies that you deceived them by telling them you wished to emigrate to Canada to start a new life.. Frankly. you are not loyal to India, Pakistan or Canada but loyal to whatever suits you at whatever time. Pakistan is better off without you and dare I say, India too is better off without you. I hope you and your family stay in Canada, mix in and just learn to become Canadian. It is better than just using and abusing the system like so many Muslims are doing in Western countries. No need to pontificate here.Recommend
@MuslimFirst: “Her parents are fighting fascist Hindus in India as secularists”
It is unclear how you came to that conclusion. She said her parents are respected professors in Delhi. That does not sound like they are figting fascism.
Also unsure how secularism has a role to play. ALL people with Pakistani passports whether Hindu, Muslim. Sikh or Christian would face the same challenges in getting an Indian visa not just the Muslim Pakistanis.
Also Muslims from Malaysia, Indonesia etc. have no trouble whatsoever in visiting India NOR do the 160 million Muslims who have made India their home.
So secularism is not really relevant to the discussion.Recommend
Rajsofa King, that is soooooo right!!! When Indians want Pakistani visas, no sirrrrrrrrrr, they want Pakistani officials to visit them in their homes to hand over visas. They don’t want to even apply. My brother who works in Pakistani embassies says Indians are very rude when applying. Otherwise they complain of discrimination!!!!!
Sister only showing Indians mirror. Thank yooo for speaking out your experience and not allowing Indians to make a fool of innocent Pakistanis.Recommend
I am sorry to see so many ignorant Indians on this forum, tarnishing the names of our well-meaning Indian friends.Recommend
@ All the people who don’t understand the concept of Visas,
Even if she lived in Jeddah for 11 Years or 20 years she carries a Pakistani passport and has to face the same visa regulations that anyone living in Pakistan does. Her place of residence makes no difference.
@ All my Indian Friends,
She gave up her nationality for love and family reasons. Don’t all your movies always show women sacrificing country for love. Thinking about movies like Veer Zara here. Or is that only ok on the silver screen and not in real life. And she said she doesn’t regret it.Recommend
As a Hindu/Indian, I am disgusted by many of the comments here. The unjustified hostility, rudeness, and lack of empathy directed at the author of this excellent blog post is simply appalling. You should be ashamed of yourselves.Recommend
Pervez Hoodbuoy should more be worried about the Physics and lectures than the political atmosphere of the region. This tells, we have people who do the work they should not be doing and ignore the work they should be doing.Recommend
Try the Nepal route … which is generally used by pakistanis … U can enter freely by road .. just walk thru … thats how the fake currency market is flourishing .. I am sorry for being sracastic … but this is what it is .. If u have chosen ur path knowingly … why cant u adjust to the bigger reason of the country an important issue like VISA to a country with loggerheads … I can feel ur pain … but such is life i suppose …Recommend
Mam, first of all I feel sorry for you.
I live abroad and seriously feel sympathy to you as I also miss my parents back here. But I am free to go to Pakistan by have a PROUD green passport.
coming to the point, we all have witness that since last 64 year the political conflicts and many wars between Pakistan and India didn’t provide benefit on either side.
So, just like European union, all the countries in Asia should join hand together and make united sub continent. Although we already have SAARC but we need to make it more effective.
This will also bring the solution to your problem, that some how all the member country people can go other member countries with out and problem.
I hope I convey my point.Recommend
Ilmana – Do you know that Delhi is celebrating 100th year this year ? So, don’t waste time and come fast (I know you will get the visa finally) …every day some sort of festivals happening here and there …the city is vibrant and waiting for you …hehe ..and btw, don’t forget to contact me when you come, we will go to Purana qila and attend cultural fests and also check out some good restaurants in South Delhi (Old Delhi now lacks quality) !!
Regards,
Your FB Bandhu,
Aninda.Recommend
@Concerned desi: Perhaps you don;t know that in the West people born from all Muslim countries probably do face more scrutiny at customs and immigration. Having said that, I have never had a problem as a Pakistani since I have nothing to hide. The process is always very transparent and I don’t believe the nonsense of some people who make up stores. I find that Iranians and certain Arabs (Saudis, Yemenis, Iraqis and Lebanese) are subject to more trouble and difficulty that Pakistanis. In your case, your move to Canada implies that you are a landed immigrant there. As such you can apply for a Canadian passport within three years of living there. Since your place of birth is India, you should have no problem traveling to India from Canada when you go to an Indian mission or embassy for a visa. Mind you, I am not big on Indian / Pakistani marriages anyway since I think it’s unfair and confusing for the kids to have children if different backgrounds and cultures. I don’t understand why the minority of migrants in Pakistan from India make travel to India such a big deal. As a native Pakistani, I have never had any desire to go there and I am sure most Pakistanis similarly have no wish to travel there.Recommend
@ Rajsofa King Dummmm – Just google – “Americans working in India” …the numbers are only increasing every month !!
Don’t mix H1B visa with tourist visa and confuse with FDI ..in that case, I can also cite banning outsourcing jobs to India by few US states like Ohio.Recommend
Dear Dr. Sahiba,
Our family shares the same history as my mom became a Pakistani national after marrying to my father. Her experience is however much more bitter. The worst part is that not just our army and politicians but also the public can’t understand our pain and even here you can see how they are fighting over retail chains! anyways, i just dream for the day when i can see my dear ones, my naana, naani, khalaas, khaalus, maamu, mumanis and cousins without the need for visa. i ve mentioned all these just to show the people how odd it is to have eids without these people. You can only understand this whole thing if you are forced to live without your parents, siblings and others for years!! i feel that birds are more luckier than us as javed akhtar sahib says it like ‘Punch’hee nadiya pawan key jhonkey, koi sarhad inhey na rokey…’Recommend
I highly endorse the comments by @ Fahad Raza.
Yasser N.Recommend
It is sad to see this thing. I have many relatives in India, my grand father was borne in India, but he is a Pakistani now, despite of being a person who was borne there & despite of having relatives there. He faces a lot of problems in getting the Visa. Pakistan was never created so that people in Pakistan wouldnt get a Visa for India. Quaid-e-Azam always wanted stable relations between both the countries, Its very sad to see how both the countries have performed after 1947. May we get these problems terminated & people in both the countries visit each other Frequently.
Pakistan ZindabadRecommend
I can understand the author’s problem since my mom is also indian and she got pakistani after getting married with my pakistani father. So true, i always wonder that indian officials don’t even care about being indian born and having been indian graduate…I have seen mom crying to see her mother in india…i remember one of my aunt who has the similar case started crying in the embassy after she was rejected visa and ultimately officials had to listen to her cries. my whole maternal famaily is in indian punjab which makes the case worst since getting visa for indian punjab is another arduous job…first one have to get delhi visa and there again apply for punjabi visa..godd!!! and guys adding fuel to the fire i am also going to marry with my cousin in india…lol…i’ll try to get both my familes out of sub-continent..only solution to situation…anyways I pray from my core of heart that things get better between these two countries. i don’t want to face similar situation with my own family.Recommend
Dr. ilmana fasih:
It is sad you are put thru some hardship. But, lets consider how you obtained pakistani passport? You need to renounce Indian citizenship, and take an ‘oath of allegiance’ to Pakistan.
If you believe in equality before law, Indian officials need to treat you as any other Pakistani, your prior Indian citizenship notwithstanding.
So, the real issue is should getting a visa to India/Pakistan should be difficult for each other. I don’t believe it should be, but history of a travel document like Visa shows that every country discriminates in visa issuance to citizens of a country that’s perceived to be unfriendly.
So, the question you should be asking is – WHY ARE WE UNFRIENDLY?Recommend
Ilmana ji, I’m not at all surprised at the current generated by your blog. It is a subject close to every Indian and Pakistani heart.
However, what disappoints me is that a hefty chunk of respondents continue to read from the old testament — barely concealing their delight at indulging in sad ol’ “enemy” bashing on what is a decidedly, serious rights issue.
But this is what happens when you don’t know your neighbour,first hand. I’m fortunate to have studied in both countries and then worked as a professional abroad in the expatriate mileau.
But each time I have come to the same conclusion: there is a dire need to open the borders, both literally and figuratively, for us to get to know each other beyond the tripe fed by those, who actually have the power to change the script, but have only been minding the gates.
2 minutes ago · LikeRecommend
@ Son of Indian mother
i wish all you people- your relatives et al, leave India and let us live in peace.Recommend
@indians.
I don’t really know whats making you so high, but just some facts. Pakistan has a poverty rate of 17% and Indian has a poverty rate of 43% (percentage of people living under $1.25). India has 2 or 3 dozen active insurgencies, and many parts of India are virtual no go areas. There is an active Naxalite insurgency that spans 30% of India. Pakistan only has a problem in a tiny piece of strip called the tribal areas.Recommend
@MuslimFirst:
This is the problem with muslims ………… they are muslims before being a pakistani or an indian.
While on the other hand all most all rich middle east countries treat non-arab muslims as second class muslims and second class citizens in their respective countries….Recommend
@ahmed
May I know what are the sources for your claims? YouTube videos?
Indian poverty rate is fast declining while Pakistan’s is increasing. Both Indian and Pakistani poverty rates are around 30% now and you’ll be surprised to read 2015 World Bank report.
2-3 dozen active insurgencies? Can you name them? All north-east militant groups (ULFA, Nagas etc.) have surrendered and they’re talking peace with the Indian government. Naxalites have become fragile (with the loss of communist parties in elections and killing of many top Naxal leaders) and their activities now are limited only to jungles of east India.
If Pakistan only has problem in tiny strip of tribal areas then how come it is affecting Pakistani economy badly? Economy and trade depends on goodwill and international perception.Recommend
The author wants to visit India not for any love for the country but to visit her parents and siblings. Since she does not regret living as a Pakistani, she should ask her parents and brothers to migrate to Pakistan.
Don’t crib find solutions.Recommend
@Hina: “She gave up her nationality for love and family reasons. Don’t all your movies always show women sacrificing country for love. Thinking about movies like Veer Zara here. Or is that only ok on the silver screen and not in real life. And she said she doesn’t regret it.”
You talked about ‘sacrificing’ for love. Well she should not complain about the sacrifice that she has willingly made i.e. a difficult time obtaining visa to the land of her birth.
She says she has no regrets – which is fine. Why is she whining then. Obviously either she does have regret about what she has given up (ease of visiting her parents) OR she has been unwilling sacrifice her rights as an Indian.
She also has the option of sending tickets to her parents to visit her in Canada. But neitehr she wants to pat extra money to meet them nor spend extra effort to obtain visa. All she wants to do is whine and compain about a decision which she made with her open eyes and about which she claims she has no regrets.
One way or another there is discrepancy between her words and actionRecommend
@ahmed:
well well, your points on the states that there are insurgent group is right but people have rejected them because o their perv aims and objectives, ulfa of assam is now without any leader with political cheif making peace talks and military leader in jail. maoist also lost its leaders in gunfight and the people of bengal( tribal) celebrated the defeat and cleansing of the area by paramilitary and police. political influence of the groups cover many part of indai as you just said but not the actual ground control. just like in pakistan.
moreover when the poverty rates of pakistan were out they were soon got into controversy of govt not coming out clean infact the recent reports says that 49% pakistanis are suffering from multi-dimensional poverty which meanns not evne the govt help can reach them.
in india poors might be same in percentage but free health care to them and teaching with food at very very low priceseg rs 3 for one kilo of rice actually reaches them. so they are poor because they dont have money and they cant spend them as they dont have it, but because of govt help the threat to survival and multi dimensional poverty is low.
i hope i cleared few things.also in india many rural employement guarantee plans are giving poors atleast 100 days of work beside what ever they do in rest of the time.Recommend
@Syed:
Ever heard of UNDP poverty line of $1.25. I am not talking about made up Indian government figures.Recommend
@Ilmana Fasih:
Ha ha… madam you should be given the highest bravary award. While everyone else is trying to get away from it you got a gree passport. It was your choice and it was a brave one..but don’t cry over the consequenses..
I can only salute you!!!Recommend
@ahmed: Madressa association has decided to give you a gold medal.
Take your head out of madresa book and see the world with your own eyes.Recommend
@ahmed:
“@indians.I don’t really know whats making you so high,…”
Yet YOU want to visit India. Why, in God’s name?
I would like to endorse following suggestions to ameliorate the situation for hop-across-the-border love-lorn Muslims:
Zalim Singh:”i wish all you people- your relatives et al, leave India and let us live in peace.”
P N Easwaran:”she should ask her parents and brothers to migrate to Pakistan.”
How about that? If you are not happy with your compatriot first cousins and must go seeking across-the-border cousins, Indians had nothing to do with your preferences. Why do you expect India to make a special allowance for you!Recommend
@Ahmed
Did you check the recent Human Development Index released by UNDP? India ranks higher than Pakistan.
Keep in mind that India’s food inflation rate is less than half that of Pakistan’s and Indian government gives a lot of subsidies (food, medicine, education) for poor compared to Pakistan.Recommend
As an Indian Muslim, I am all for ‘good’ Pakistanis visiting India. We in India love to see and mingle with people from diverse backgrounds and take pride in showing our own diversity and social vibrancy.
But my fear is that just a few ‘bad’ Pakistani visitor will tarnish the name of the Muslim community in India. A few incidents of terrorism and all of India starts looking at segments of the Muslim society more closely. I do not want that kind of attention.
My fear is that a lot of your Jihadi folks will sneak into India along with legitimate visitors and then create havoc. Only you folks living inside Pakistan believe that your Army/ ISI are not involved nurturing and supporting Jihadi folks. Rest of us outside Pakistan feel otherwise.
We in India are open to tolerating non-violent forms of dissent. But a terrorist attack is something which screws up everything. That is something which changes everything.
In Pakistan you may feel a armed Jihadi response to perceived injustices in Kashmir or other issues is justified. But not so in India. We are more patient and more accommodating. It is a live and let live theme. A more ‘how can we all get along’ attitude. We are more soft on religion. Fundamentalism is frowned upon. The biggest desire is not how to be more ‘pure’ (religion wise), but how to get ahead in life (career, money, consumerism), how to travel and enjoy ‘modern’ life.
I am not saying everybody in India is this way, but majority of the society feels this way. At least the generation which has come up in the last 30-40 years.
Funny thing, Even Bal Thackrey’s grand daughter is marrying a Muslim – and this is no big news in India. Well Bal Thackrey and his Shiv Sena party are bigger news in Pak newspapers anyway, compared to in India.
BTW, India is a poor country. We rely on our own money and are proud about it. If we have to speed up the visa process, while keeping the intensive background check that we have now, we would have to spend more money – add more people to the process. Visitors from Pakistan are not the big spenders who would add to our economy. We cannot afford to throw money at such things.Recommend
Hi
I presume you studied in India to become a doctor. And all the investment that India did is now being put to use attending the terrorists that Pakistanis are. How about repaying India the money we spent on you?
But then if you could convince all of your kind to move over like you did, we would still not mind the expense. That’s one good things India would be indebted to you for.Recommend
i don’t understand what author trying to say, on one hand she says she never really had any problem to get a visa to india except when kargil was underway,on other she is whining about how she had to stand in a Que just like any other Pakistani,if i read it rightly author thinks she supposed get some kind of special assiduity cuz she was an indian but relinquished her indian passport for Pakistani passport willingly as she put it.that says she is a Pakistani in every way,now the lady either should try being a Pakistani or quit being an Indian.
i don’t understand how this blog was any answer for prof Hoodhboy’s editorial who was stopped by his own country’s security officials and subjected to expendable interrogation which irked him to no end.Recommend