Pakistani infant successfully operated in India, to return soon

Roohan underwent a high-risk surgery in a hospital in Noida

A Pakistani infant whose father had pleaded for help with a medical visa and was promised treatment by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has successfully undergone surgery.

Rohaan, who had a congenital heart disease, underwent a high-risk surgery called Arterial Switch in a hospital in Noida, reported Times of India.

"The child has been successfully operated upon and his health condition is being monitored. He will be discharged soon," a spokesperson for the hospital told TOI.

Rohaan's family who is India with him will fly back to Pakistan after permission from doctors who will be monitoring his health for a few days.

"Thank you, India. Thank you for everything. The past one month has been a spiritual and emotional journey for us. There was a time when we feared losing our son. I simply can’t express how happy I am to see him fully recovered and smiling," the infant's father Kanwal Siddiq said to Hindustan Times.

Pakistani couple Kanwal Siddiq and Anam with their son Rohaan. PHOTO: Hindustan Times

While the couple doesn't have much hope of travelling to India again owing to the tension between both the neighbouring countries, Kanwal hopes raise awareness about heart diseases.

"Now, I want to dedicate my life towards raising awareness for a healthy heart. I want to enlighten more and more people on the need to take care of one’s heart from an early age. I also wish to form an organisation in Lahore to take my cause forward," Kanwal said to HT.

The Indian High Commission in Pakistan had issued a visa to the child and his parents after India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj intervened. The visa was issued after the boy’s father, who uses Twitter as ‘Ken Sid’, made a desperate appeal to the Sushma on social media to allow his son to be treated in India for ailment.

https://twitter.com/KenSid2/status/867381251560361986

The Indian external affairs minister responded by promising to issue the visa saying, “No. The child will not suffer. Please contact Indian High Commission in Pakistan. We will give the medical visa,” Swaraj tweeted while responding to Ken’s tweet.