India delays travel permission to long-term visa holders
The border between India and Pakistan is not just a point of entry and exit, it serves as a bridge between families that have been divided by the perennial tensions between the two neighbors.
While the relationship between the two nuclear countries remains complex and mostly hostile, families on both sides continue to suffer.
Iqra is one of the many who are struggling to cross the border. In March this year, she married her cousin, who hails from Hyderabad, on the other side of the fence, in India. Both Islamabad and New Delhi have repatriated several families, but so far there are no indications from India about the possibility of helping couples who are divided by the border, which has been completely closed for more than five months due to the pandemic.
In July this year, Iqra’s husband, who is an Indian citizen, crossed the border to visit his wife. Since then, the two have not been able to return to India. The Indian embassy in Islamabad has received the required documents to process Iqra’s visa, but nothing happened since the submission.
“My mother is unwell, and I would like my wife to travel to India,” pleaded Ibrahim, who wants Iqra to return with him.
The Indian embassy, he said, is delaying the case. “They claim the documents have been mailed to the foreign ministry for verification and the visa will be issued after that,” said Ibrahim.
The numbers are in for India and Pakistan
According to details, more than 1,000 such cases are waiting for assistance from the Indian High Commission in Pakistan.
Most of these individuals, who are now stranded in Pakistan due to the Indian government’s visa freeze, came to visit their families and were never allowed to return to India due to the procedural delays caused by the Indian High Commission.
Upon marrying an Indian national, the Pakistani spouse is issued a No Objection to Return to India (NORI) visa. Despite having the particular type of travel permission, the Indian government has created several procedural hurdles to delay the return of such individuals. In most cases, these visas have expired. The NORI, which is valid for only 60 days, has to be renewed once it expires. The Indian High Commission appears to be delaying the renewal process and many believe the Covid-19 health crisis is being used as an excuse.
“Our NORI visa should be extended, and we should be allowed to return,” said one stranded woman, who has been in Pakistan with her family for more than four months.
According to details available with the Express Tribune, more than 360 individuals with the NORI visa are expected to return to India this month. Another 37, who have Indian passports, will return shortly after that.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2020.